Brachymystax - Lenoks

Lenoks (otherwise known as Asiatic trout or Manchurian trout) are a genus, Brachymystax, of salmonid fishes native to rivers and lakes in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, wider Siberia (Russia), Northern China, and Korea.

There are three species in this genus:

• Brachymystax lenok (Pallas, 1773) – sharp-snouted lenok
• Brachymystax savinovi Mitrofanov, 1959
• Brachymystax tumensis T. Mori, 1930 – blunt-snouted lenok

Traditionally, only B. lenok was recognized, including both sharp-snouted and blunt-snouted forms. Based on differences in morphology and genetics, the blunt-snouted form was split off as a separate species, B. tumensis. Hybrids between these two are known. The validity of the third species, B. savinovi, is questionable, and it is often considered a synonym of B. lenok. The name B. savinovi has occasionally been used for the blunt-snouted lenok, but this is incorrect.

Appearance
Lenoks can be sharp-snouted (B. lenok) or blunt-snouted (B. tumensis). They are relatively round in shape, and speckled with dark brown spots. Their ventrals are usually colored a reddish hue, and their pectoral fins yellowish. They weigh up to 15 kilograms (33 lb), and can reach a total length of 1.05 m (3.4 ft).

Habitat, range and status
Lenoks tend to live in rivers of any sort, but usually upstream, where the water is colder. They are also found in lakes such as Baikal.

As currently defined, the sharp-snouted lenok (B. lenok) is widespread in central and eastern Russia, and also found widely in northern Mongolia, locally in northeastern Kazakhstan (Irtysh Basin) and northeastern China (Amur Basin).

The blunt-snouted lenok (B. tumensis) is found widely in southeastern Russia and more locally in northeastern and central parts of the country, as well as northeastern Mongolia (Amur Basin), northern China and Korea. Although the two generally are found in separate areas, there are also regions where their ranges overlap such as the Amur Basin.

The recently revalidated Brachymystax tsinlingensis is restricted to streams in the Yellow and Yangtze basins in the Qinling Mountains of China.

Though overall widespread, lenoks in South Korea are now on the verge of extinction due to deforestation and they have also declined in China.