Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)

[I]—Rainbow trout

Taxonomy. Original description: Salmo mykiss Walbaum 1792: 59 (Kamchatka, Russia; no types known).— Afghanistan synonyms: Salmo gairdnerii Richardson, 1836.—Revisions: Berg (1948: 267) as Salmo mykiss; Stearley & Smith (1993: 21) as Oncorhynchus mykiss mykiss.—Illustration: Berg (1948: 268, fig. 155) as Salmo mykiss.

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Dupree (1973); confirmed by Coad (1981: 8 as Salmo gairdnerii; 2014: 318).—Afghanistan materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: This species is mostly cultured cold water fish. Can not be breeding in the wild water. Therefore, can find around fish farming facility are established in suitable habitats.— General distribution: North Pacific and adjacent basins; widely introduced elsewhere.—Habitat: This species occurs in various habitats, including clear, small to large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Freshwater, brackish, marine.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Reasons of introduction. Aquaculture/research.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).

Remarks. About 500.000 fingerlings have been released into Salang and Panjsher rivers (Coad 1981; Duppre 1973). This species does not reproduce naturally in the wild. It may be locally present due to specimens escaping from fish farms.