The Biwa trout (Oncorhynchus rhodurus) is an anadromous salmonid fish of the Pacific salmon genus Oncorhynchus, endemic to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. While called trout, the fish is most closely related to the masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou of the western Pacific, and is most often considered a subspecies of it, Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus. The Catalog of Fishes does not recognize any taxonomic difference between the Biwa trout and nominate masu salmon O. masou masou.
Adult Biwa trout usually range from 40 to 50 cm in length and 1.5 to 2.5 kg in weight although large specimens can be up to 70 cm long and 5.0 kg in weight.
This fish feeds on plankton, aquatic insects, freshwater prawns, worms, ayu and other small fishes and, sometimes, small mammals. It is found only in the waters of northern Lake Biwa.
Read more about Biwa Trout: Use As Food
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