Oncorhynchus masou formosanus

Oncorhynchus masou formosanus, the Formosan landlocked salmon[1] or Taiwanese salmon, is a freshwater salmonid fish endemic to Taiwan.

Oncorhynchus masou formosanus
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Oncorhynchus
Species:
O. masou
Subspecies:
O. m. formosanus
Trinomial name
Oncorhynchus masou formosanus

Population

The Formosan landlocked salmon is a subspecies of the more widespread West-Pacific cherry salmon (or masu salmon). This Taiwanese subspecies is critically endangered, being at high risk for extinction, and is protected in its native habitat. The Formosan land-locked salmon is one of the rarest fish in the world. It was once a diet staple among Taiwanese aborigines like the Atayal people, who know this fish by several local names: bunban, mnbang and n'bang.[2]: 116, 157  Overfishing has led to its decline. Conservationists are trying to save this subspecies which is threatened nowadays mainly by pollution. By 1992, there were only 200 remaining according to official count. Over the next 20 years, the Taiwanese government, the Shei-Pa National Park Administration, as well as effective conservation efforts in Taiwan, restored the fish population to historical high of 12,587 in 2020.[3] In March 2023, the number of fish once again reached new heights since restoration first started in 1995, with 15,374 counted by the Shei-Pa National Park Administration.[4][5]

Description

Formosan landlocked salmon are about a foot in length and inhabit cold, slow-flowing streams with gently sloping beds at elevations above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), such as the Chichiawan Stream and the Kaoshan Stream (formerly named Hsuehshan Stream/Wuling Stream) in the upper reaches of the Tachia River, within the ranges of Shei-Pa National Park.

At this time, these salmon represent the southernmost natural distribution of members of the family Salmonidae in Asia.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic rank of the endemic Taiwanese salmon is in dispute.[6] Some authors consider it not distinct from the nominate cherry salmon (O. masou masou), others as a regional subspecies O. masou formosanus, and still others list is as a full species O. formosanus.

The salmon is featured on the Taiwanese 2,000 dollar bill.[5]

See also

Notes
  1. Yan HY (2000) Threatened fishes of the world: Oncorhynchus masou formosanus (Jordan & Oshima, 1919) (Salmonidae) Environmental Biology of Fishes 57:314.
  2. Gao Richang (December 2008). 雪霸國家公園鄰近地區（尖石、大同等）泰雅族口述歷史訪談暨部落發展規劃 [Investigation of the relationship between Taiwan cherry hooked salmon and tribal culture——Taking the Huanshan Tribe in Heping District, Taichung City and the Nanshan Tribe in Datong Township, Yilan County as examples] (PDF) (Report) (in Chinese). 內政部營建署雪霸國家公園管理處 Taiwan Institute of Indigenous Peoples.
  3. 吳, 姿賢. "復育有成 櫻花鉤吻鮭數量創新高". udn.com. 聯合報. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  4. 胡, 蓬生. "台灣櫻花鉤吻鮭 野外數量創新高". udn.com. 聯合線上公司. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  5. Jui-ping, Kuan; Mazzetta, Matthew. "Formosan landlocked salmon population reaches record high". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  6. Kottelat, M. (1996). "Oncorhynchus formosanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T15323A4513507. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T15323A4513507.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

References


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