Arctic Grayling

Thymallus arcticus

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
AFCHA07010
Common Name: 
Arctic Grayling
Scientific Name: 
Thymallus arcticus
Naming References: 
B011
B059
Google image search
Taxonomy
Group: 
Fish
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Actinopterygii
Order: 
Salmoniformes
Family: 
Salmonidae
References: 
B011
B059
W012
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

4 - 6 years
References: 
B011

Longevity

11 - 12 years
References: 
B011

Economic/Human Considerations

sport fishing
References: 
B011
B059
Habitat
adults = clear waters of large, cold rivers, rocky creeks, and lakes spawning = small gravel- or rock-bottomed tributaries
References: 
B011
H133
Distribution

Ecozones

Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B011
B059

Distribution

0.88
Score: 
G
References: 
B011
B059
B172
Marine Distribution Description: 
freshwater only

Number of Occurrences

more than 100, all below tree line and onto the tundra mainland
References: 
B011
B059

Area of Occupancy

stable
Score: 
-
References: 
H133
Population

Population Size

More than 10 000
References: 
H133
Trends

Trends

stable
References: 
H133
Threats

Threats

potential sport overfishing, mining development and global warming;
Score: 
BC
References: 
H133

Intrinsic Vulnerability

inland forestry and mining development and global warming, The species is sensitive to warming climate (ie; global warming). For example, the Kakisa River grayling population experienced high mortality which was caused by reduced resistance to a pathogen
Score: 
-
References: 
H133
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
Status Rank Description: 
But some sensitivity to warming climate (ie; global warming) and some pathogens; (I) no recent assessments. Note: populations in Alberta have declined in abundance and occupancy within and across watersheds. Similar to bull trout in this region (NT), this clearly demonstrates that this species is vulnerable to stressors and should be manageable conservatively to prevent similar declines in the north. ..this species has been given S3 in NU and am curious about the rationale for this and whether it applies to populations in the NT (DFO 2020)
S Rank: 
S3
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by the Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens with review by S. Carriere in 2000; Reviewed by L Cooper, G Low, Dr Reist in 2005, no change.; Reviewed by DFO in 2010,no change; Reviewed by DFO in 2015,modified from sensitive to secure, more information;Reviewed in 2020 by DFO, modified from secure to sensitive, error correction.
Last Updated: 
September 22, 2020

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return

Economic Status

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

Ecozones

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

Habitat

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return

Longevity

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Naming

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
,
McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return
,
Fish Base (1999) FishBase 99. http://www.cgiar.org/iclarm/fishbase/ - W012 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

Population Size

Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return

Range Extent

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return
  • Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. (2007) Distributions of freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland Northwest Territories, Canada.. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 - B172 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return

Taxonomy

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return
  • Fish Base (1999) FishBase 99. http://www.cgiar.org/iclarm/fishbase/ - W012 Return

Threats

  • Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., R3T 2N6 , 204 983 5158 - H133 Return