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This species has two different names: in some places, it's called the kutum, and in others, the kutum. Unfortunately, you won't be able to catch it on fishing trips to the Putorana Plateau. On the other hand, catching the kutum and kutum is prohibited by law, as they are listed in the Red Book due to their critically endangered status. But first things first.
Who is he and what does a cuttooth look like?
Carp and kutum are other relatives of the beloved carp and crucian carp. They belong to the large Cyprinidae family. These freshwater ray-finned fish have different names based solely on where they live.
- Carp are found in the waters of the Black and Azov Sea basins.
- The Kutums still live in the south of the Caspian Sea.
Many anglers have never encountered this fish, so they don't even know what it looks like. The cisco is often compared to a roach in appearance. This carp relative has the following characteristics:
- Some individuals reach a length of 75 cm.
- The body resembles a bar, which ends in a tail with a wide fin.
- The head of the scaly-toothed merganser is small and slightly curved, on which are located small eyes and very sharp, strong teeth.
- The scales are large, with a silvery-gray or silvery-green sheen. On the back, they are dark.
- The fins of these individuals are also dark.
- The weight of a trout can reach 6 kg. However, more modest-sized specimens are more common.
This fish is fast, cautious, and quite timid. When threatened, it will dart off and hide in some shelter, where it can remain for hours until it's certain the danger has passed.
Habitat of the scaly-toothed cat
The fish can be caught mainly in the morning or at night. It is most active during the dark hours and rarely rises to the surface, dwelling closer to the bottom. Scientists believe the Caspian Sea is the native home of the scaly-toothed fish. It has migrated to the Seas of Azov and Black Sea.
This fish is beloved by residents of Iran and the Caucasus. They call these specimens "kutums" there. It's tasty and tender. Previously, kutums were found in European waters such as the Don, Dnieper, Bug, and Dniester, but now you can hardly find them there.
Nowadays, when the fish is threatened with extinction, private fish farms are trying to raise them in artificial reservoirs. This allows anglers on trophy fishing trips not only to legally catch trout but also to sample its delicious meat.
An interesting fact about this fish is that the scaly-toothed trout is depicted on the coat of arms of one of the Russian cities, Novy Oskol. This means that specimens once inhabited the city's reservoir, and, incidentally, they are said to have been abundant there.
Briefly about the main thing
As we mentioned above, catching trout and kutum on trophy fishing trips in the Putorana Plateau isn't possible. However, you can experience immense satisfaction in battling the mighty lord of Siberian rivers, the river tiger taimen. The land of 1,000 lakes and waterfalls boasts a huge number of salmon ( whitefish, brown trout, kunja, char, lenok, and others).
As a reminder, the tarsus, like the taimen, is listed in the Red Book, meaning that once caught, the fish must be released. Don't take risks and endanger your freedom, as catching endangered species is illegal. The exception may be sport fishing, as in the best taiga reserves.
