Pygmy Whitefish, Prosopium coulteri , in Three Lakes of the Copper River System in Alaska

Pygmy whitefish (Prosopium coulteri) were recorded for the first time from the Copper River drainage in Alaska (from Tazlina, Klutina, and Tonsina lakes). Morphology of the specimens indicate affinity to the Lake Superior and Waterton Lake populations, falling outside the ranges previously establish...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Main Authors: Bird, Franklin H., Roberson, Kenneth
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1979
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f79-065
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f79-065
Description
Summary:Pygmy whitefish (Prosopium coulteri) were recorded for the first time from the Copper River drainage in Alaska (from Tazlina, Klutina, and Tonsina lakes). Morphology of the specimens indicate affinity to the Lake Superior and Waterton Lake populations, falling outside the ranges previously established for "low-rakered" and "high-rakered" forms found in Alaska. Based on geographical proximity, however, probable origin for these fish is from an upper Yukon River unglaciated refugium. Key words: pygmy whitefish, Copper River, Alaska, morphology, Yukon River, unglaciated refugium