Scientist says he found Japan fish thought extinct

Scientist says he found Japan fish thought extinct (AP)
In this undated photo released by Kyoto University via Kyodo News, a specimen of endangered Japanese salmon species is on display. A science professor says a Japanese salmon species thought to have gone extinct 70 years ago lives in a lake near Mount Fuji. (AP Photo/Kyoto University via Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA

A Japanese salmon species thought to be extinct for 70 years is alive and well in a lake near Mount Fuji, a science professor said Wednesday.

The black kokanee, or "kunimasu" in Japanese, was thought to have died out in 1940, when a hydroelectric project made its native in northern Akita Prefecture more acidic.

Before then, 100,000 were reportedly transported to Lake Saiko but the was still thought to have died off.

But Tetsuji Nakabo, a professor at Kyoto University, said his team of researchers found the species in Lake Saiko, about 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of the native lake.

"I was really surprised. This is a very interesting fish - it's a treasure. We have to protect it and not let it disappear again," he said.

He posed for pictures and video with a specimen that was dark olive with black spots on its back. The kunimasu grow to about a foot (30 centimers) in length.

Nakabo said the lake had sufficent kunimasu for the species to survive if the current environment is maintained, though he said in interviews he hoped fishermen would not catch it.

Lake Saiko is in a region popular with tourists for its Fuji views and hot spring baths.

The is still listed as extinct in the public records of the Environment Ministry. Yobukaze Naniwa, an official at the ministry, said Nakabo's claim would be investigated before records are due to be updated in 2012.

Other species, including and plants, have also been discovered in Japan after being declared extinct, Naniwa said.

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Citation: Scientist says he found Japan fish thought extinct (2010, December 15) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2010-12-scientist-japan-fish-thought-extinct.html
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