Local Names:
Rocky Mountain whitefish, Williamson’s whitefish
Average Size:
8 to 12 inches
½ to ¾ lb.
Distinguishing Field Marks:
Trout-shaped body with adipose fin between dorsal and tail.
Relatively small head with a small mouth
Snout extends slightly beyond tip of lower jaw
Eyes are moderately large
Scales are of moderate size, with 74 to 90 along the lateral line.
The tail fin is moderately forked with pointed lobes
North American Range:
Map to the right shows approximate range in North America.
Diet:
The very young feed entirely on plankton, then, as they grow larger feed almost exclusively on immature aquatic insects. Both as juveniles and adults, Mountain whitefish will feed on the occasional crustacean, mollusk, or small forage fish.
