Key Takeaways
| Fact | Description |
| Scientific Name | Salmo obtusirostris |
| Common Names | Adriatic trout, Adriatic salmon, Softmouth trout |
| Habitat | High-altitude waterways and inhabits cold streams and small rivers, especially the deep, calm parts |
| Distribution | Adriatic Sea, specifically in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro |
| Unique Characteristics | Long snout, small and fleshy, pretty big scales and high body depth |
| Conservation Status | Endangered |
Introduction
Adriatic trout, scientifically known as Salmo obtusirostris, is a species of salmonid fish that is endemic to the rivers of the Western Balkans in southeastern Europe. People also commonly refer to this species as the Adriatic salmon and the Softmouth trout.
Habitat and Distribution
Adriatic trout are found naturally in four drainages of the Adriatic Sea, specifically in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. These include:
- The Neretva – Vrljika system
- The Jadro
- The Morača – Zeta system
- Possibly the Krka River drainage around Knin. However, it is presumed to be extinct in the Krka River for some time now.
This fish can be found in high-altitude waterways. It inhabits cold streams and small rivers, especially the deep, calm parts.
Diet and Behaviour
You’ll often see them hanging out in groups. Their diet mainly consists of invertebrates and have a specific time of the year when they lay eggs, which is around April and May.
Characteristics
Adriatic trout has some really cool features that make it stand out. First, it has a long snout that’s easy to spot. Second, its mouth is small and fleshy. Third, it has pretty big scales and high body depth. Lastly, its body color can change depending on the subspecies, but it’s usually green with red and black spots.
Subspecies
The different groups of Adriatic trout are sorted into subspecies.
| Subspecies | Distribution |
| Salmo obtusirostris oxyrhynchus | This fish lives in the Neretva River and its smaller rivers, the Buna, the Bregava, the Rama, and the Trebižat, all of which are in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia have this fish in the Vrljika River. |
| Salmo obtusirostris salonitana | This one is found in the Jadro River and the Žrnovnica River in Croatia. |
| Salmo obtusirostris krkensis | This fish lives in the Krka River in Croatia. It only lived in about one kilometer of the river’s headwater, but sadly, it’s most likely extinct now. |
| Salmo obtusirostris zetensis | This one can be found in the Zeta River and the Morača River in Montenegro. |
Conservation Status
The current listing for the Adriatic trout is as an endangered species. This means that the species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of this unique species.
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