Which freshwater fish is endemic to Lake Baikal and commonly called the omul?

Coregonus migratorius is the freshwater fish endemic to Lake Baikal that is commonly called the omul.

The omul is a whitefish in the salmon family, Salmonidae. It lives in Lake Baikal, the ancient Siberian lake famous for exceptional depth, age and biodiversity. The species has traditionally supported important fisheries around the lake and has long been part of local food culture.

Omul usually feed on small aquatic animals such as amphipods and other invertebrates, although diet varies with age and location. They migrate into tributary rivers to spawn, linking the lake ecosystem with surrounding watersheds.

The Baikal omul is often confused with Arctic cisco, another fish historically called omul in some regions. Modern scientific treatments distinguish Coregonus migratorius as the Baikal species, while genetic and taxonomic research has debated its exact relationship to nearby whitefishes.

Fishing restrictions have periodically been introduced because reduced catches and changing environmental conditions have raised conservation concerns. The fish remains a symbolic species of Lake Baikal.