Huchen, scientifically known as Hucho hucho, is a species of large freshwater fish belonging to the salmon and trout family, Salmonidae. It is commonly referred to as Danube salmon or Danube trout. The huchen is native to the Danube River basin in Europe, particularly found in countries such as Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, and Hungary.
The huchen is a powerful and voracious predator, known for its impressive size and strength. It has a streamlined body, elongated head, and a deeply forked tail, which aids in its swift movements and agility underwater. It can grow up to considerable lengths, reaching up to 1.5 meters and weighing over 25 kilograms, making it one of the largest freshwater fish in Europe.
This species has distinctive features, including a dark gray to greenish-brown body with small dark spots scattered across its scales. Its lower jaw is slightly elongated, giving it a unique appearance compared to other members of the salmon family.
Huchen mainly inhabit deep, slow-flowing rivers and large, clear lakes with rocky or gravelly bottoms. They are known for their migratory behavior, moving upstream to spawn in the shallow gravel beds during the spawning season, which typically occurs in autumn or early winter.
Due to overfishing and habitat degradation, the huchen population has declined in recent years, leading to conservation efforts aiming to protect and restore suitable habitats for this iconic freshwater species. It is also considered a prized game fish by anglers due to its size, strength, and challenging nature to catch.
