473:
558:(aft of the dorsal); it is sickle-shaped. The paired fins are longer in male fish than in females. All fins have well-developed breeding parts (raised tissue "bumps") in ripe males, but these are poorly developed or absent in females. Adult coloration is brown or blue on the back extending to the top of the head, lighter to silvery white or light blue on the sides, and white on the ventral surface; speckling is extra fine, sparse, and restricted to the back. Adults can reach maximum lengths of 30 cm (12 in) but most adults are between 15 and 20 cm (6 and 8 in). Adults have striae on their
680:
exploitation of the large runs. Today harvested eulachon are typically stored frozen and thawed as needed. They may also be fried, dried, smoked, or canned. Eulachon were also processed for their rich oil. The usual process was to allow the fish to decompose (rot) for a week or more in a hole in the ground, then add boiling hot water and skim off the oil, which would rise to the surface, being less dense than water. Eulachon oil (also known as "Eulachon grease") was traded with inland communities; as a result, the trails over which the trade was conducted came to be known as
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665:
102:
57:
79:
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occasionally a river which has large runs sees a year with no returns; the reasons for such variability are not known. The eulachon run is characteristic for the early portion being almost entirely male, with females following about midway through the run to its conclusion. Males are easily distinguished from females during spawning by fleshy ridges which form along the length of their bodies.
38:
724:. (ESA). NMFS found that this petition presented enough information to warrant conducting a status review of the species. Based on the status review NMFS proposed listing this species as threatened on March 13, 2009. On March 16, 2010, NOAA announced that the Southern DPS of eulachon will be listed as threatened under the ESA, effective on May 17, 2010 (See: the
585:
fish, spend most of their adult lives in the ocean but return to their natal freshwater streams and rivers to spawn and die. As such, one stream may see regular large runs of eulachon while a neighboring stream sees few or none at all. Regular annual runs are common but not entirely predictable, and
519:
based on that language. One of several theories for the origin of the name of the state of Oregon is that it was a corruption from the term "Oolichan Trail", the native trade route for oolichan oil. In some parts it is also known as “halimotkw”, which can be translated as “savior fish” or “salvation
679:
from
California to Alaska made eulachon an important part of their diet, as well as a valuable trade item with peoples whose territories did not include spawning rivers. The species was caught using traps, rakes, and nets. The harvest continues today, with other residents taking part in the
759:
Rivers population was given threatened status, but this was downgraded to
Special Concern status when the Nass / Skeena Rivers population was individually reassessed by COSEWIC in 2013. As of May 2023, a decision is pending on the listing of these populations under Schedule 1 of the
472:
578:, insect larvae, ocean debris and small crustaceans. It forms an important part of the diet of many ocean and shore predators, and serves as a prominent food source for people living near its spawning streams.
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1139:
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1027:"COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Eulachon, Nass / Skeena Rivers population, Central Pacific Coast population and the Fraser River population
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in fat, that if caught, dried, and strung on a wick, it can be burned as a candle. This is the name most often used by early explorers. The name
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1138:. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service.
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intended to serve as a blueprint for the protection and recovery of the southern
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of eulachon (
783:. Canadian spawning runs have been severely depleted compared to historic levels, while abrupt declines were reported in the
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1461:
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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/150707-salvation-fish-canada-first-nations-animals-conservation-world
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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/150707-salvation-fish-canada-first-nations-animals-conservation-world
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fish”, due to its availability for fishing often coming at the end of winter, when food supplies typically run low.
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Overall, the species is not likely to become extinct in the near future, but faces multiple threats, including
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Central Coast First Nation preserves eulachon grease tradition as the fish returns to Bella Coola River
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The name "candlefish" derives from it being so fatty during spawning, with up to 15% of the total
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Endangered
Species Act Recovery Plan for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of Eulachon (
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notice published on May 18, 2010, at 74 FR 3178). On
September 6, 2017, the NMFS approved a
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8:
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1175:"COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Eulachon, Nass/Skeena Rivers population,
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874:
NatureServe
Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer
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1001:(Revised ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 202–203.
720:, (the so-called Southern DPS) as an endangered or threatened species under the
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United States. National Marine
Fisheries Service. West Coast Region (2017).
19:"Candlefish" redirects here. In British English, "Candlefish" refers to the
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938:"Watch a Fish Transform from Animal to Candle | National Geographic"
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1283:, Audrey McKinnon, CBC News, June 27, 2018, last opened Febr. 13, 2022
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1184:. Ottawa: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
1036:. Ottawa: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
982:. National Marine Fisheries Service. 6 August 2013. Archived from
942:
772:
542:
Eulachon are distinguished by the large canine-like teeth on the
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from other smelt. They feed on plankton but only while at sea.
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First ever documentation of this species by artist and explorer
736:) using the best available science per the requirements of the
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1299:, National Geographic on YouTube, last opened Febr. 13, 2022
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684:. Other uses of eulachon by non-Natives include bait for
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that spawns in some of the major river systems along the
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771:, pollution, loss of freshwater spawning habitat due to
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Committee on the Status of
Endangered Wildlife in Canada
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1252:National Marine Fisheries Service eulachon webpage
1056:"Eulachon of the Pacific Northwest A Life History"
747:populations were classified as endangered by the
1580:
621:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
840:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202415A18236183.en
574:Eulachon feed primarily on plankton as well as
1168:
1166:
1091:"Proposed listing status for Pacific eulachon"
999:Field guide to freshwater fishes of California
1020:
1018:
480:in his journal entry on February 25, 1806 at
1296:Watch a Fish Transform From Animal to Candle
980:NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources
668:Eulachon rendering camp at the mouth of the
1163:
863:
814:
677:Indigenous communities of the Pacific Coast
1063:Living Landscapes Program, Royal BC Museum
1015:
77:
55:
36:
1269:Preserving the Tradition of T'lina Making
1264:FishBase entry for Thaleichthys pacificus
838:
743:In Canada, the Central Pacific Coast and
652:Learn how and when to remove this message
1115:"NOAA's Eulachon listing status history"
996:
905:Global Biodiversity Information Facility
663:
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1233:Integrated Taxonomic Information System
1210:. Government of Canada. 2 February 2021
1172:
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751:(COSEWIC) in 2011. At that time, the
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1624:Taxa named by Charles Frédéric Girard
1307:
1306:
859:
857:
700:(NMFS) received a petition from the
593:
1589:IUCN Red List least concern species
1288:Sinumwack: Bella Coola Oolichan Run
1048:
961:
826:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
801:
530:is also called "candlefish" in the
13:
1157:"Eulachon, Thaleichthys pacificus"
876:. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe
14:
1645:
1257:
1247:The First Sign of Spring: OOLIGAN
854:
698:National Marine Fisheries Service
1145:from the original on 2023-12-03.
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403:
368:
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100:
1599:First Nations culture in Canada
1208:Species at risk public registry
1196:
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950:
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1:
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1271:- Virtual Museum Exhibit of
997:McGinnis, Samuel M. (2006).
688:and food for cats and dogs.
467:
7:
706:distinct population segment
562:that aid in distinguishing
10:
1650:
1594:NatureServe secure species
864:NatureServe (5 May 2023).
569:
250:Jordan & Gilbert, 1898
18:
1604:Fish of the Pacific Ocean
1315:
972:"Pacific Eulachon/Smelt (
779:and dam construction and
546:and 19 to 31 rays in the
235:
228:
209:
202:
97:Scientific classification
95:
75:
53:
44:
35:
30:
1229:"Thaleichthys pacificus"
1077:"Endangered Species Act"
607:This section includes a
1609:Native American culture
1275:eulachon oil production
708:(DPS) of eulachon from
636:more precise citations.
1634:ESA threatened species
1629:Fish described in 1836
1361:Thaleichthys_pacificus
1347:Thaleichthys pacificus
1317:Thaleichthys pacificus
1177:Thaleichthys pacificus
1133:Thaleichthys pacificus
1029:Thaleichthys pacificus
974:Thaleichthys pacificus
898:Thaleichthys pacificus
868:Thaleichthys pacificus
833:: e.T202415A18236183.
819:Thaleichthys pacificus
738:Endangered Species Act
734:Thaleichthys pacificus
722:Endangered Species Act
696:In November 2008, the
673:
564:Thaleichthys pacificus
495:(occasionally seen as
484:
325:Thaleichthys pacificus
213:Thaleichthys pacificus
667:
475:
271:Thaleichthys stevensi
815:NatureServe (2013).
1065:. January 11, 2006.
986:on 3 February 2014.
900:(Richardson, 1836)"
762:Species at Risk Act
692:Conservation status
590:Economics and trade
538:Species description
458:northern California
247:Osmerus albatrossis
47:Conservation status
1619:Marine fish genera
674:
609:list of references
528:Anoplopoma fimbria
513:Chinookan language
485:
258:(Richardson, 1836)
1576:
1575:
1548:Open Tree of Life
1309:Taxon identifiers
662:
661:
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281:
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255:Osmerus pacificus
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195:T. pacificus
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1096:. Archived from
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1079:. 28 April 2023.
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791:rivers in 1994.
726:Federal Register
704:Tribe to list a
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946:. 15 July 2015.
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1103:on 2009-05-11.
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517:Chinook Jargon
511:) is from the
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1291:(UBCIC, 1978)
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682:grease trails
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581:Eulachon, as
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554:they have an
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478:William Clark
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274:Girard, 1858
270:
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212:
210:
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193:
175:Thaleichthys
174:
173:
154:Osmeriformes
25:
1483:NatureServe
1431:iNaturalist
1341:Wikispecies
769:overharvest
634:introducing
556:adipose fin
489:body weight
444:species of
87:NatureServe
1583:Categories
1179:in Canada"
1031:in Canada"
1008:0520237277
795:References
789:Klinaklini
718:California
710:Washington
670:Nass River
583:anadromous
544:vomer bone
442:anadromous
438:candlefish
436:), or the
1614:Osmeridae
777:diversion
576:fish eggs
560:operculum
525:sablefish
468:Etymology
452:coast of
189:Species:
164:Osmeridae
120:Kingdom:
114:Eukaryota
31:Eulachon
21:Sablefish
1514:eulachon
1488:2.100935
1449:10154306
1405:FishBase
1326:Wikidata
1238:11 March
1140:Archived
785:Columbia
642:May 2023
548:anal fin
515:and the
509:uthlecan
505:oulachon
497:oolichan
493:eulachon
400:hooligan
330:oolichan
285:eulachon
230:Synonyms
160:Family:
134:Chordata
130:Phylum:
124:Animalia
110:Domain:
67:IUCN 3.1
1423:2410903
1332:Q348917
943:YouTube
773:logging
702:Cowlitz
672:, 1884.
630:improve
570:Ecology
550:. Like
501:ooligan
450:Pacific
365:ooligan
223:, 1836)
170:Genus:
150:Order:
140:Class:
85: (
83:Secure
65: (
1566:282959
1553:555682
1540:282959
1527:796584
1501:240832
1475:202415
1462:162051
1436:113994
1394:ECOS:
1005:
757:Skeena
716:, and
714:Oregon
507:, and
462:Alaska
183:, 1858
181:Girard
1561:WoRMS
1444:IRMNG
1387:7C5HL
1374:10698
1214:7 May
1188:7 May
1182:(PDF)
1143:(PDF)
1101:(PDF)
1094:(PDF)
1059:(PDF)
1040:7 May
1034:(PDF)
911:7 May
880:7 May
846:7 May
615:, or
456:from
446:smelt
1535:OBIS
1509:NOAA
1496:NCBI
1470:IUCN
1457:ITIS
1418:GBIF
1397:9165
1369:BOLD
1240:2006
1216:2023
1190:2023
1042:2023
1003:ISBN
913:2023
882:2023
848:2023
831:2013
753:Nass
283:The
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_here_first_ever_documentation_of_this_species_by_artist_and_explorer_William_Clark_-_Clark_Family_Collection-_Volume_2._Voorhis_Journal_No._2,_page_60,_February_25,_1806_(cropped).jpg)