Grayling

grayling Thymallus thymallus, a European freshwater fish of the salmon family, Salmonidae. Its range extends from S. France up to Scandinavia and from England to the Ural and Volga rivers of Russia. It may be found in lakes, but prefers clean, cool, swift rivers. Maximum length is 45 cm (18"); weight can be over 2 kg (5 lb). The silvery sides bear delicate horizontal stripes, violet in colour. These and the characteristic long and high dorsal fin make it easy to identify.

This is a good fish, worthy of the distinguished family to which it belongs. There is also an Arctic grayling, T. arcticus, which grows somewhat bigger and is an important food fish for communities in the Arctic regions.