Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) [I]—Rainbow trout; Truit kaous kasah

Taxonomy. Original description: Salmo mykiss Walbaum, 1792: 59 [Kamchatka, Russia; no types known].—Syrian synonyms: Salmo gairdnerii Richardson, 1836 .—Revisions: Berg (1948: 267) as Salmo mykiss; Stearley & Smith (1993: 21) as Oncorhynchus mykiss mykiss .—Illustration: Berg (1948: 268, fig. 155) as Salmo mykiss, Jawad et al. (2019) .

Status in Syria. First record from Syria by Saad et al. (2006); confirmed by Saad et al. (2009).—Syrian materials: MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Upper part of the Orontes River near the Syrian-Lebanese border (Rabla town), where breeding farms for this species are established within the Syrian borders by bringing fingerlings from breeding farms in Lebanon, the Hermel region on the Lebanese side of the border. It was introduced to Syria during the seventies of the last century, when imported eggs were hatched in the Zabadani area west of Damascus, where cold water was available, and then the fingerlings were transported to fattening farms on the Syrian coast near the Al-Sin spring. It is still cultivated in cold spring basins near Jabal Al-Sheikh, east of Quneitra (Syrian Golan), and in the area of Ribla (Orontes River) near the Syrian-Lebanese border (where cold water is available in the upper part of the Al-Asi (Orontes) River.—Distribution in River Basin: 4- Orontes.—General distribution: North Pacific and adjacent basins; widely introduced elsewhere.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 437-Orontes.—Habitat: This species usually occurs in cold streams, rivers, and lakes, but is also found in various habitats. Freshwater, brackish, marine.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Reasons of introduction. Aquaculture/research.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).

Remarks. This species is mostly cultured cold-water fish. This species cannot reproduce in the environment on its own. Due to the escape of fish farm specimens, suitable habitats have been established in the vicinity of fish farms.