Coregonus clupeaformis

Status

This species is native to Labrador. It was also introduced to Hogan’s Pond on the Avalon Peninsula in 1886.

Habitat

A cool-water, schooling species that prefers open waters, and is often found near the bottom of deep lakes.

Range

Found in all provinces in Canada.

Food

Diet consists of mollusks (snails and clams), insect larvae, amphipods, leeches and sometimes small fish. Lake Whitefish is a principle food source for pike, Lake Trout and Burbot.

Appearance

Breeding Biology

Spawning usually occurs in November or December, when waters reach roughly 7.8^oC. In very cold areas such as Labrador, these fish may only spawn once every two to three years. Spawning usually occurs in shallow waters at depths no greater then 25 feet. Spawning substrate is normally a rocky bottom or shoals.

The number of eggs a female releases varies depending on her size and latitude, but is estimated at about 8,000 to 16,000 eggs, which are randomly deposited over the spawning grounds. Spawning usually occurs at night, with both males and females forming large schools. Eggs hatch in about 140 days.