Biwa trout
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Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Species: Oncorhynchus masou (Seema or Cherry Salmon)

[Photo] Species: Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus. Biwa trout or Masou trout (or Biwa salmon) which returned to river which flowed into the northern Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Japan for spawning. A breeding color has appeared. Top- 20.2in(514mm) male, Bottom- 16.9in(429mm) female. This trout is enzootic to Lake Biwa, Japan. Date: Nov. 01, 2005(JST). Caught & Photo by Vineyard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ja:user:OAS).

The Biwa trout or Biwa salmon, Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus, is an anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is one of several fish called trout but it is, according to taxonomists, a subspecies of the Cherry salmon. It is enzootic to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Japan and is found only in the waters of northern Lake Biwa.

The Biwa trout feeds on plankton, aquatic insects, freshwater prawn, lake prawn, worm, Ayu and other small fishes and, sometimes, small mammals. Biwa trout represents a unique food fish for the Shiga prefecture. The fish has a reputation as being very difficult to catch by angling.

Appearance

Sizes
Adult Biwa trout usually range from 40 to 50 cm in length and 2.5 to 4.0 kg in weight although large specimens can be up to 70 cm long and 6.0 kg in weight.

Biwa trout as food
Biwa trout and its caviar are considered a delicacy. Usual ways to prepare the trout is as sashimi, by grilling with salt, in meuniere, or by smoking, deep-frying or simmering, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biwa_trout

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