View source for Arctic cisco

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{For|the Baikal omul|Coregonus migratorius}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Arctic cisco
| image=Arctic Cisco.jpg
| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Coregonus autumnalis
| authority = ([[Peter Simon Pallas|Pallas]], 1776)
|status_ref=<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Freyhof, J. |author2=Kottelat, M. |date=2008 |title=''Coregonus autumnalis'' |volume=2008 |page=e.T5363A11123479 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T5363A11123479.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
}}

The '''Arctic cisco''' (''Coregonus autumnalis''), also known as '''Arctic omul''' ({{langx|ru|Омуль}}), is an [[anadromy|anadromous]] species of [[freshwater whitefish]] that inhabits the [[Arctic]] parts of [[Siberia]] especially [[Yenisey Gulf]]. It can also be found in [[Alaska]] and [[Canada]]. It has a close freshwater relative in several lakes of [[Ireland]], known as the [[Coregonus pollan|pollan]], alternatively regarded as [[conspecific]] with it, or as a distinct species.<ref>{{FishBase|genus=Coregonus|species=autumnalis|year=2010|month=04}}</ref><ref>{{FishBase|genus=Coregonus|species=pollan|year=2010|month=04}}</ref>

== Taxonomy ==
The freshwater [[omul]] of the [[Lake Baikal]], formerly considered a [[subspecies]] ''Coregonus autumnalis migratorius'' of the Arctic cisco, has no close genetic relationship to it and is now classified as a separate species, ''[[Coregonus migratorius]]''.<ref>{{FishBase|genus=Coregonus|species=migratorius|year=2010|month=04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite iucn | author = Freyhof, J. | author2 = Kottelat, M. | title = ''Coregonus autumnalis'' | volume = 2008 | page = e.T5363A11123479 | date = 2008 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T5363A11123479.en }}</ref>

== Description ==
The Arctic cisco has a relatively small head with a non-prominent snout. It has a metallic silver body, a brown or dark green back, and nearly colorless fins. It has neither spots nor teeth on its jaw. It does not have a patch of teeth on its tongue. It can reach 50&nbsp;cm (20&nbsp;in) in length and weight up to 2&nbsp;kg (4.4&nbsp;lbs) but is usually less than 40&nbsp;cm (16&nbsp;in) in length and 1&nbsp;kg (2.2&nbsp;lbs) in weight.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=arcticcisco.main|title=Arctic Cisco Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game|website=Alaska Department of Fish and Game|language=en|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=fnam&id=1276|title=Marine Species Identification Portal: Arctic cisco - Coregonus autumnalis|website=species-identification.org|language=en|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat ==
The Arctic cisco can be found in the [[Beaufort Sea]], [[Colville River (Alaska)|Colville River delta]], and freshwater drainages east of the [[Sagavanirktok River]]. It can be found in several drainages in the [[Northwest Territories]] and Siberia, such as the [[Chaun River]], and is not often found east of [[Point Barrow]].

== Food chain ==

=== Diet ===
The Arctic cisco preys upon plankton, crustaceans and small fishes.<ref name=":0" />

=== Predators ===
Predators of the Arctic cisco include marine mammals, seabirds and large fishes such as the [[Dolly Varden trout]] and [[burbot]].<ref name=":0" />

== Behaviors ==

=== Reproduction ===
The Arctic cisco is able to spawn at 8 or 9 years of age. Females may only be able to spawn two or three times in their life, and do not necessarily produce eggs every year.

The Arctic cisco reproduces in September. It does not reproduce in Alaskan waters but does reproduce in the [[Mackenzie River]].

Females have up to 90,000 eggs.<ref name=":0" />

=== Migration ===
Young Arctic cisco migrate along the Beaufort Sea coast and are then aided by winds to the Colville River delta, where they are over 160&nbsp;km (100&nbsp;mi) from where they spawned. They return to the Mackenzie River to spawn.<ref name=":0" /> They do not feed while migrating upwards.<ref name=":1" />

== Life history ==
Arctic cisco can live to be 13 years old or more.<ref name=":0" />

== Conservation ==
Little is known of the abundance of Arctic cisco in Alaska.<ref name=":0" />

=== Threats ===
The largest threats to the Arctic cisco appear to be climate change and oil and gas development.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

{{Whitefish}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q6714971}}

[[Category:Coregonus]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish of the Arctic]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish of Europe]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish of the United States]]
[[Category:Fish of Canada]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1776]]