Morphology and Genetics of the Ciscoes (Actinopterygii: Salmoniformes: Salmonidae: Coregoninae: Coregonus) from the Solovetsky Archipelago (White Sea) as a Key to Determination of the Taxonomic Position of Ciscoes in Northeastern Europe

Research on ciscoes (Coregonus) from the Solovetsky Archipelago reveals that these fish are genetically indistinguishable from the vendace (C. albula), despite intermediate morphological traits suggesting a distinct species. The study, conducted between 1995 and 2009, analyzed 344 specimens using morphological characteristics—such as vertebral count—and genetic markers, including creatine kinase alleles and mitochondrial DNA (ND-1 fragment). While the Solovetsky ciscoes exhibited traits bridging C. albula and the least cisco (C. sardinella), molecular data aligned them with the vendace, indicating that environmental adaptation likely drives morphological variation. The findings challenge traditional taxonomic distinctions, suggesting that C. albula and C. sardinella may represent a single species, C. albula.

Borovikova, E. A., Alekseeva, Y. I., Schreider, M. J., Artamonova, V. S., & Makhrov, A. A. (2013). Morphology and Genetics of the Ciscoes (Actinopterygii: Salmoniformes: Salmonidae: Coregoninae: Coregonus) from the Solovetsky Archipelago (White Sea) as a Key to Determination of the Taxonomic Position of Ciscoes in Northeastern Europe. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, 43(3), 183–194. https://doi.org/10.3750/aip2013.43.3.02