''Salmo obtusirostris'', also known as the Adriatic trout, Adriatic salmon, and softmouth trout, is a species of salmonid fish

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the rivers of

Western Balkans The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

in southeastern Europe. The scientific name has changed several times through history; synonyms include ''Thymallus microlepis'', ''Salmothymus obtusirostris'' and ''Salar obtusirostris''. This species spawns in the early spring and is an obligatory freshwater fish. They are an important

game fish Game fish, sport fish or quarry refer to popular fish pursued by recreational anglers, and can be freshwater or saltwater fish. Game fish can be eaten after being caught, or released after capture. Some game fish are also targeted commercial ...

Distribution and subspecies

''Salmo obtusirostris'' is found naturally in four drainages of the Adriatic Sea, in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...

and

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

: the Neretva- Vrljika system, the

Jadro The Jadro is a watercourse in Dalmatia, Croatia, that discharges into the Adriatic Sea. The upper reaches of the Jadro River, as well as its source, Jadro Spring, are protected as an ichthyological nature reserve, partly due to the presence of a ...

, the

Morača The Morača ( sr-cyrl, Морача, ) is a major river in Montenegro that originates in the northern region in Kolašin Municipality under Mount Rzača. It meanders southwards for before emptying into Lake Skadar. Its drainage basin covers ...

Zeta Zeta (, ; uppercase Ζ, lowercase ζ; grc, ζῆτα, el, ζήτα, label= Demotic Greek, classical or ''zē̂ta''; ''zíta'') is the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 7. It was derived f ...

system, and possibly the Krka river drainage around

Knin Knin (, sr, link=no, Книн, it, link=no, Tenin) is a city in the Šibenik-Knin County of Croatia, located in the Dalmatian hinterland near the source of the river Krka, an important traffic junction on the rail and road routes between Zagr ...

although it is presumed extinct for some time now. In addition, sometimes during 1960's, it has been introduced from the Jadro river to the nearby Žrnovnica river, both being small karst, single river drainages, of very short course, in vicinity of

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, entertai ...

. Although the Vrljika belongs to the Neretva River drainage it's a sinking river, divided in several on surface and underground segments, hence separated from the Neretva River in significant manner regarding softmouth trout populations. However, the Vrljika softmouth trout is apparently most similar to the Neretva's subspecies, while some autapomorphies exist in the Vrljika population. The Vrljika softmouth trout appears to have originated from a vicariance that split a common ancestral population into large (Neretva) and small (Vrljika) fragmented populations. The different populations are sometimes classified into subspecies: * '' Salmo obtusirostris oxyrhynchus'': Neretva and its tributaries the Buna, the

Bregava The Bregava ( sr-cyrl, Брегава) is a sinking river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through the town of Stolac. It is a left tributary of the Neretva river. The river Bregava and its buildings - bridges, mills and stamping mills over ...

, the

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...

, the

Trebižat Trebižat is a village in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the 1991 census, the village is located in the municipality of Čapljina Čapljina ( sr-cyrl, Чапљина, ) is a city located in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of ...

and the Vrljika within both

and

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

*''

Salmo obtusirostris salonitana ''Salmo obtusirostris salonitana'' (also termed by the common names soft-muzzled trout or Solin salmon and the scientific synonym '' Salmothymus obtusirostris salonitana'') is an endemic trout subspecies found in the Jadro River in the vicinit ...

'': the

Jadro River The Jadro is a watercourse in Dalmatia, Croatia, that discharges into the Adriatic Sea. The upper reaches of the Jadro River, as well as its source, Jadro Spring, are protected as an ichthyological nature reserve, partly due to the presence of ...

and the Žrnovnica River in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

*'' Salmo obtusirostris krkensis'': the Krka river in Croatia *'' Salmo obtusirostris zetensis'': the

Zeta River The Zeta (Serbian Cyrillic: Зета, ) is a river in Montenegro. Its source is under the mountain of Vojnik. The river flows eastwards for until it empties into the river Morača just north of Podgorica. Its drainage basin area is .

and the

Morača River The Morača ( sr-cyrl, Морача, ) is a major river in Montenegro that originates in the northern region in Kolašin Municipality under Mount Rzača. It meanders southwards for before emptying into Lake Skadar. Its drainage basin covers . ...

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

Appearance and anatomy

The most obvious characteristic of the Adriatic trout is an elongated snout. It also has a small and fleshy mouth, relatively large scales and high body depth. The color of the body varies between subspecies, it is mostly green with red and black dots. There are no vertical stripes that are common in brown trout of the Adriatic Sea drainages that can be found.

Conservation

Adriatic trout are threatened by excessive damming, hybridization with

introduced species An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived ther ...

and overfishing. In the river Neretva, natural hybrids (named ''kosor'' by locals) between Adriatic and brown trout can be found. Hybridization was also confirmed experimentally (Kosorić & Vuković. 1969). Adriatic trout prefers rivers with more water and wide riverbed. Adriatic and brown trout have different spawning times that overlap only slightly every few years, which is why natural hybridization is not widespread and both species live sympatrically in the same rivers.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q367301 obtusirostris Freshwater fish of Europe Endemic fish of the Neretva basin Fish of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fish described in 1851 Endemic fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina Species endangered by river-damming