Coregonus nigripinnis (Milner, 1874)
Blackfin cisco
Coregonus nigripinnis
photo by Lyons, J.

Family:  Salmonidae (Salmonids), subfamily: Coregoninae
Max. size:  39 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 14 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; depth range 2 - 160 m
Distribution:  North America: restricted to Great Lakes (Lake Huron in Canada-USA and Lake Michigan in USA) and Lake Nipigon in Canada.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-13; Vertebrae: 56-59. This species is usually characterized by darkly pigmented fins and deep body. Body elongate, distinctly laterally compressed, and deep, the greatest body depth in front of the dorsal fin. Head triangular; eye large; snout blunt, its length usually greater than eye diameter; mouth terminal, lower jaw usually projecting beyond upper, sometimes equal to upper jaw, maxillary pigmented , and extending posteriorly to below the anterior edge of the pupil. Overall coloration dark silvery, with pink or purple iridescence on sides, back dark green to black and silvery below. Maxillary and mandible whitish but heavily pigmented. All fish typically black, particularly on outer half.
Biology:  Formerly found in deep waters (90-160 m) of Lakes Michigan and Huron, and in 2-100 m in Lake Nipigon. Belongs to C. artedi complex.
IUCN Red List Status: Extinct (EX); Date assessed: 01 August 1996 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.