Thymallus Thymallus.
Species description.
Thymallus Ligericus or Loire grayling as it is known is a species found in the headwaters of the Loire River basin in central France. Its easily recognised by its large dorsal fin that can be red blue or grey. It has silver sides with black spots ranging from 50 to hundreds of them and a yellow red or grey tail. With a maximum length of 50cm and a weight of 2KG its a medium sized salmonid. Large fish sometimes feed on a small fish but this species mostly feeds on aquatic insects and other insects. Its a cold-water lover and is found in deep pools with a bit less flow.
Behaviour.
Grayling are found in deep slow flowing pools and its outflow and are mostly found near the bottom of the river. They feed larva, aquatic insects, bugs, ants and other insects, when the conditions are right, they also feed on the surface. They can be recognised by their calm movement and position in the river. And in colder times they tend to school together.
History.
Throughout history grayling have inhabited large parts of Europe but humans started to kill these beautiful fish because it was thought they competed with trout for food and they would keep trout out of some parts of the streams. Recent findings are that they feed on different items and they inhabit different micro habitats than trout. Some research even found that streams with good grayling populations have better trout populations as well.
Threats.
Since this species is only found in one river basin the species is vulnerable for climate change, pollution, damming and introduction of other graylings from other systems.
Distribution.
The distribution of the species is limited to the headwaters of the Loire River basin in central France.