| Family |
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Salmonidae
Species (popular name): Brook trout
(scientific name): Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill 1815) | | |
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| Name in the main European languages |
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I: Salmerino di fontana
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F: Omble de fontaine
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E: Trucha de fontana
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D: Bachsaibling
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| Max. size |
Kg: 5
cm: 80 |
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| Period of reproduction |
| Autumn/Winter – from October to March |
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| Description |
| A medium size fish, it has a tapering, long body. It is very similar to the alpine char, although their colourings are different. The brook trout, in fact, is grey-bluish with violet blotches; on the back, on the dorsal and the caudal fin it shows irregular winding yellowish or greenish lines; on the sides it presents numerous small white, yellowish or few red spots encircled by a light blue ring. The pectoral, ventral and anal fins are yellow or orange and are edged with white followed by a black line. During the period of reproduction, male takes up more vivid colours. It has a big mouth, in a mid position slightly inclined to the top, with numerous strong, acuminated teeth. |
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| Biology |
| This species, of North American origins, was brought to Italy in the late XIX century, nearly in the same period as the rainbow trout. It has been successfully introduced in a few lakes of the Alps and the Apennines, provided the water does not go over 20°C. Unlike the alpine char, since it is young the brook trout prefers a solitary life. Male trout reach their sexual maturity on their second-third year, females on their third-fourth year and produce 2,000-3,000 eggs per kg of live weight. Incubation, at a temperature of 10°C, lasts for about 50 days. Feed is varied: small aquatic invertebrates, insects and their grubs, crustaceans, worms and molluscs, as well as young salmonids, included those of their own species. |
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| Fishing |
| The excellent quality of its flesh makes it highly appreciated by sports fishers. |
| Acquacultura |
| Trout breeding techniques are carried out exclusively to obtain young specimens for repopulation or adults to introduce in the small lakes where sports fishing is practiced. |
| Curiosity |
| Due to the superimposition of the period of reproduction, it may interbreed with the brown trout giving origin to an hybrid specimen known as "tiger trout". |
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