Biwa trout
| Biwa trout | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Salmoniformes |
| Family: | Salmonidae |
| Genus: | Oncorhynchus |
| Species: | O. biwaensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Oncorhynchus biwaensis Fujioka et al. 2025
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The Biwa trout, or Biwa salmon (Oncorhynchus biwaensis)[1] is an anadromous salmonid fish of the genus Oncorhynchus, endemic to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, but also introduced to Lake Ashi and Lake Chūzenji.
This species was previously identified to be same animal as Oncorhynchus (masuou) rhodurus which is first described from Lake Ashi.[2] However, The Biwa trout was found to be a separate species from O. rhodurus and was described as a new species in 2025.[1] O. rhodurus may represent a hybrid specimen instead.[3]
Biwa trout is found only in the waters of northern Lake Biwa, and feeds on plankton, freshwater prawns, aquatic insects, worms, ayu and other small fishes, and sometimes small mammals. Adult Biwa trout usually range from 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) in length and 1.5 to 2.5 kg (3.3 to 5.5 lb) in weight, although large specimens can be up to 70 cm (28 in) long and 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) in weight.
Use as food
[edit]Biwa trout represents a unique food fish for the Shiga Prefecture. Biwa trout and its caviar are considered a delicacy. Usual ways to prepare the trout is as sashimi, by grilling with salt, in meuniere, or by smoking, deep-frying or simmering, etc. The fish has a reputation as being very difficult to catch by angling.
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Grilled -
Grilled with rice -
Raw chirashizushi with rice -
Roe pickled in soy sauce
References
[edit]- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2010). Oncorhynchus rhodurus in FishBase. April 2010 version.
- ^ a b Fujioka, Yasuhiro; Kuwahara, Masayuki; Tabata, Ryoichi; Fuke, Yusuke; Nakabo, Tetsuji (2025-06-21). "The Biwa salmon, a new species of Oncorhynchus (Salmonidae) endemic to Lake Biwa, Japan". Ichthyological Research. doi:10.1007/s10228-025-01032-z. ISSN 1616-3915.
- ^ Jordan, David Starr; Jordan, David Starr; Hubbs, Carl L.; McGregor, Ernest Alexander (1925-06-27). "Record of fishes obtained in Japan by David Starr Jordan in Japan, 1922". Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum. 10 (2): 93––346. doi:10.5962/p.234844.
- ^ 宏, 瀬能 (2008). "境界線上で翻弄される箱根の魚たち" (PDF). Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History.
External links
[edit]- Yoshikazu Fujioka Profile of Biwamasu Trout and Seasons of The Mountain Village. www.hi-ho.ne.jp
- Biwa trout information from the National Institute for ES of Japan (Japanese)
- Fishing info. of Biwa trout (Japanese - at Archive.org)
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