Arctic grayling

Arctic grayling

　　The Arctic grayling belongs to the salmon family. It has yellow spots on its back and pale red spots along its sides, with white edges on the lower fins. As it feeds on the eggs and juveniles of other salmon species, it is considered harmful. It often migrates to the sea and returns to rivers as an adult to spawn. Its average weight is about 0.5–1.8 kg (1–4 lbs), though some can grow larger.

　　It has a relatively low-positioned mouth with a large, arched gape. Both the upper and lower jaws are lined with rows of fine teeth; the vomerine teeth are sparse and do not connect with those of the palate. There are also a few fine teeth on the tongue's surface. The body is covered in small scales. Males tend to have more pointed heads.

　　There are both landlocked and migratory types. In China, the landlocked type is found, which lives its entire life in clear, cold waters of main river channels and tributaries. From September to October, when the water temperature is around 8°C, it spawns over gravelly substrates in slow-moving water that is 30–60 cm deep. It reaches sexual maturity at 3–4 years of age. The eggs are oval-shaped, orange-yellow, and 4.2–5.0 mm in diameter. Fecundity ranges from 194 to 310 eggs. It has a broad diet, mainly feeding on benthic organisms and insects that fall into the water, and sometimes even leaps out of the water to catch prey.