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Grayling [fish]
Thymallus thymallus
Thymallus thymallus, harjus, the grayling or European grayling, is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family Salmonidae. It is the only species of the genus Thymallus native to Europe, where it is widespread from the United Kingdom and France to the Ural Mountains in Russia, and Balkans on the south-east, but does not occur in the southern parts of the continent.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymallus_thymallus
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Salmoniformes
Family
Salmonidae
Genus
Thymallus
Grayling [fish] belongs to the family Salmonidae, order Salmoniformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Thymallus thymallus, harjus, the grayling or European grayling, is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family Salmonidae. It is the only species of the genus Thymallus native to Europe, where it is widespread from the United Kingdom and France to the Ural Mountains in Russia, and Balkans on the south-east, but does not occur in the southern parts of the continent. It was introduced to Morocco in 1948, but it does not appear to have become established there.
European Grayling populations have declined dramatically due to habitat degradation, water pollution, and river modifications that have fragmented their spawning grounds. Climate change is exacerbating these pressures by altering water temperatures and flow regimes that this cold-water species requires. Overfishing and competition from introduced species have further contributed to population declines across much of their historical range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
European Grayling populations have declined dramatically due to habitat degradation, water pollution, and river modifications that have fragmented their spawning grounds. Climate change is exacerbating these pressures by altering water temperatures and flow regimes that this cold-water species requires. Overfishing and competition from introduced species have further contributed to population declines across much of their historical range.
Climate change and rising water temperatures
Habitat degradation and river channelization
Water pollution from agricultural and industrial sources
Competition from introduced fish species
Overfishing and angling pressure
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Grayling [fish] (Thymallus thymallus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/grayling-fish