Fun Blackfin Cisco Facts For Kids

The blackfin cisco was one of the largest ciscoes found in its North American range. This fish was one of seven species found in the Great Lakes in North America and one of 10 species present in Canada. This fish belonged to the family of whitefish called Salmonidae. Unfortunately, the species of blackfin cisco (Coregonus nigripinnis) is now extinct. These fish used to be really large in size and looked quite beautiful. There is very little data available regarding this fish as it is now extinct.These fish could often be found in freshwater lakes swimming in deeper areas of water. One of the reasons they are extinct now is overfishing. In the ’50s there weren’t any rules regarding fishing of this fish and therefore large numbers were caught and killed. Another reason for their extinction is being preyed on by sea lamprey, also known as vampire fish. During the ’60s the blackfin cisco (Coregonus nigripinnis) was fished commercially in large quantities, which further harmed its conservation status. This fish was also called a jumbo herring.If you find this fish interesting, do check out our rainbow cichlid facts and the lamprey facts too.

What do they prey on? Opossum shrimp

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? 23-39.15 oz (652-1110 g)

How long are they? 12-20 in (30-51 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Silver with black fins

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans, Lake Trout, Sea Lamprey, Alewife, Rainbow Smelt

What is their conservation status? Extinct

Where you’ll find them? Deep Waters In The Great Lakes

Locations North America, Canada

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Coregonus

Class Actinopterygii

Family Salmonidae

Blackfin Cisco Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a blackfin cisco?The blackfin cisco is a deep water fish with dark green to black back, as well as a silvery back when found in freshwater lakes. These fishes were a member of North American salmonid fish and were really big in size.What class of animal does a blackfin cisco belong to?The blackfin cisco belongs to the Actinopterygii class. They are dominant vertebrates found in freshwaters in Lake Michigan, Lake Nipigon, and others. The blackfin cisco, Coregonus nigripinnis, is marked by its black fins, hence its name.How many blackfin ciscos are there in the world?As of now, the blackfin cisco, Coregonus nigripinnis, which was usually found swimming in the deep waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Nipigon, is extinct. There are other species of ciscos that are still alive, however, this beautiful fish is sadly gone.Where does the blackfin cisco live?Their distribution was mostly known to occur in the Great Lakes of North America as well as in Canada. Other than this, there is very little information available regarding their population distribution.What is a blackfin cisco’s habitat?Due to their extinction, there is very little information available regarding the typical blackfin cisco habitat. From what is known, these beautiful fish loved to swim in deep, freshwater lakes. They would swim around with their darkly pigmented dark dins in waters that were as deep as 295.27-623.3 ft (90-160 m)! In summers, these fish would come up to depths of around 121 ft (37 m).Who do blackfin ciscos live with?Due to their population decline from the 1900s to the ’50s as a result of commercial fishing, not much information has been obtained regarding who the blackfin cisco used to live with.How long does the blackfin cisco live?Each blackfin cisco lived for about seven and a half years.How do they reproduce?These deep water ciscoes were believed to breed in the months of November to January. The decline of their population means that there is little research out there about the blackfin cisco. They may have bred over a clay bottom. The introduction of newer species and hybridization when breeding was another factor for the decline in their population and their distribution range.What is their conservation status?The conservation status of the blackfin cisco is Extinct. These fish that were commonly seen in the deep waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Nipigon were quite rare. They had darkly pigmented fins, a blackish silvery body as well a dark dorsal fin. The most astounding feature of the blackfin cisco was its iridescent body, the sides of its body were pinkish-purple! How magical is that?Blackfin Cisco Fun FactsWhat do blackfin ciscos look like?The fish found in a North American range had a dorsal fin, their bodies were blackish-silvery and their darkly pigmented fins really brought out their length. This cisco was quite large in size as compared to its relatives. Characterized by its black fins, this fish could be found swimming in a deep water range and had big eyes, a blunt snout, and a mouth with which they would prey on opossum shrimps.How cute are they?The blackfin cisco was more elegant than cute.How do they communicate?There is not any information available regarding their behaviors because they were found deep underwater and were really hard to study, especially after the decline in their population in the ’60s.How big is the blackfin cisco?The blackfin cisco was the largest cisco with a large body, large eyes, big fins, and a long slender body. These fish used to grow up to 12-20 in (30-51 cm) in size and 23-39.15 oz (652-1110 g) in weight. It was observed that female ciscos relatively weighed more than males. They could grow almost as big as the wels catfish.How fast can a blackfin cisco swim?There isn’t any information available regarding the speed at which the blackfin cisco swam, however, do know these fish swam in really deep waters!How much does a blackfin cisco weigh?Their average weight would range between 23-39.15 oz (652-1110 g) and females weighed more than males.What are their male and female names of the species?There were no specified names for male and female fish of this species.What would you call a baby blackfin cisco?There is no specific name assigned to a baby blackfin cisco.What do they eat?The average blackfin cisco diet mostly consisted of opossum shrimps.Are they aggressive?No, these ciscsos with black fins were not known to be aggressive. They were not predatory by nature either.Would they make a good pet?These fish are extinct so no, but even if they were alive anyone would have a hard time managing this fish. It is large in size and is not meant to be domesticated.Did you know?These ciscos with black fins used to be found in waters that are as deep as 295.27-623.3 ft (90-160 m), where they looked for these shrimps.Naming the blackfin ciscoThe blackfin cisco derived its name from its darkly pigmented fins. Apart from that, this fish was also called a jumbo herring. There are other fish from the cisco species which are fortunately still alive and thriving in freshwater lakes today.Why did the blackfin cisco go extinct?The blackfin cisco was commercially fished from 1900 to the ’60s and therefore the species was pushed towards extinction through this. Hybridization as well as being prey to other aquatic animals like alewife and rainbow smelt caused a further decline in their population.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our rainbow trout facts and milkish fish facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable goldfish with coral coloring pages. *We’ve been unable to source an image of blackfin cisco and have used an image of bull trout fish instead as the main image. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of blackfin cisco, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected]

What type of animal is a blackfin cisco?

The blackfin cisco is a deep water fish with dark green to black back, as well as a silvery back when found in freshwater lakes. These fishes were a member of North American salmonid fish and were really big in size.

Fun Blackfin Cisco Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Opossum shrimp

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? 23-39.15 oz (652-1110 g)

How long are they? 12-20 in (30-51 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Silver with black fins

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans, Lake Trout, Sea Lamprey, Alewife, Rainbow Smelt

What is their conservation status? Extinct

Where you’ll find them? Deep Waters In The Great Lakes

Locations North America, Canada

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Coregonus

Class Actinopterygii

Family Salmonidae

Fun Blackfin Cisco Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Opossum shrimp

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? 23-39.15 oz (652-1110 g)

How long are they? 12-20 in (30-51 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Silver with black fins

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans, Lake Trout, Sea Lamprey, Alewife, Rainbow Smelt

What is their conservation status? Extinct

Where you’ll find them? Deep Waters In The Great Lakes

Locations North America, Canada

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Coregonus

Class Actinopterygii

Family Salmonidae

Fun Blackfin Cisco Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Opossum shrimp

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? 23-39.15 oz (652-1110 g)

How long are they? 12-20 in (30-51 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Silver with black fins

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans, Lake Trout, Sea Lamprey, Alewife, Rainbow Smelt

What is their conservation status? Extinct

Where you’ll find them? Deep Waters In The Great Lakes

Locations North America, Canada

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Coregonus

Class Actinopterygii

Family Salmonidae