The population from the Anadyr drainage may represent a distinct species.

The number of salmonid taxa within some genera (e.g. Salmo, Salvelinus, and Coregonus) listed in various taxonomic databases (e.g. Fishbase or Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes) has increased very rapidly over the past 15-20 years. Many of these taxa are not widely accepted across the international community and are associated with very sparse data, leading to significant difficulty in accurately carrying out Red List assessments. The SSG strongly recommends a rigorous evaluation of the validity of these species designations, which can have real implications where legal protection is reflected by the use of these binomial taxonomic names.

Salvelinus boganidae is found in lakes in Katanga river drainage (Boganidskoye Lake) and Pyasina river system (Lama, Keta, Sobach'ye, Glubokoye, Kapchuk lakes) on the Tamyr Peninsula, and lakes in the headwaters of Anadyr River (El'gygytgyn, Pennoye, Baran'ye), Russia. There are no recent data for this species population size and trend, and further research is required. It historically experienced declines due to over exploitation but has since been protected in some areas by fishing bans. Being widespread, occurring within protected areas, and not believed to face major threats, this species is assessed as Least Concern.

The species in found in lakes in Katanga river drainage (Boganidskoye Lake) and Pyasina river system (Lama, Keta, Sobach'ye, Glubokoye, Kapchuk lakes) on the Tamyr Peninsula, and lakes in the headwaters of Anadyr River (El'gygytgyn, Pennoye, Baran'ye), Russia.

There are no recent data on the population size and trend, and further research is required. It is reported to be a locally common but not an abundant species (Armand et al. 2001). It was highlighted by Chereshnev (2008) that as a result fishing development of Elgygytgyn Lake beginning in the 1950s, considerable overfishing and a decline in the population of this species had occurred, especially within 1978. Chereshnev (2008) highlights how in 1986 a five-year catch ban was introduced, and again in 1991. However, in 1991 fishing was resumed and continued in 1993-1995. During this period, according to expert estimates, about 10 tonnes (5,000-6,000 individuals) were caught, which again resulted in a decline in numbers (Chereshnev 2008). According to the echosounder and catches in 1994, about 12,000 adults of the species lived in the lake at the beginning of fishing (Chereshnev 2008). In addition to fishing, a natural limiting factor may also be the number of its prey, Salvethymus svetovidovi and Salvelinus elgyticus (Chereshnev 2008). Chereshnev (2008) further proposed that the state of the population and the number of the species in the Pennoe and Baran’e lakes are unknown, but they are most likely prosperous and determined by natural causes only.

Salvelinus boganidae is a benthopelagic, freshwater fish species.

Spawning occurs in September-October in shallow waters with dense pebbles and the spawning period is long, starting in the open water and ending under ice (Chereshnev 2008). Apparently, redds are not built and eggs are not buried for this species, with fecundity of 1.15-11.8 thousand eggs that are yellow, large, and reach a diameter of mature eggs of 5.2-5.9 mm (Chereshnev 2008). This species matures at an age of 10-16 years, and each individual probably spawns only once in 2-3 years (Chereshnev 2008). Males do not mature before 11 years, in mass after 15 years, females later after 14 years, in mass after 17 years (Chereshnev 2008). Young fish of this species live in streams where they feed on benthos; adults live in the lakes and only feed on fish prey (Chereshnev 2008). In winter the intensity of feeding is much lower than in summer. It lives up to 32 years old, reaching a length of 1.2 m and weight of at least 15-16 kg (Chereshnev 2008).

The size of this species from Sigtak and Bezymyannoe lakes (Khatanga river drainage) at the maximum registered age of 12+ years has been recorded at 60 cm and 2,700 g (Popov 2007). In the Khatanga River lakes, it mainly feeds on large forms of zooplankton, amphipods, chironomid larvae, fish nine-spined stickleback and young whitefish (Popov 2007).

In Lake Elgygytgyn, Salvelinus boganidae usually inhabits the slopes of the lake in the range of 10-100 m and more depths, where its prey (Salvethymus svetovidovi and Salvelinus elgyticus) are concentrated (Chereshnev 2008). For digestion, it approaches shallow waters and mouths of streams, where water temperature (6-7.5º C) is higher than in the lake (2-3.5º C) (Chereshnev 2008).

The population in the Anadyr drainage is potentially impacted by both overfishing, and harvesting of its prey species.

At El'gygytgyn the species is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation from drilling/boring.

Fishing is widespread, but catches are relatively small due to low abundance.

This species, within the Fishery Regulations for the Far Eastern Fishery Basin 2007, has its range in Lake Elgygytgyn included in the list of water bodies where any catch of aquatic biological resources (including amateur ones) is prohibited. The same regulation for 2019 is still valid (N. Bogutskaya pers. comm. 2020).

Further research into population trend, distribution, and suitable harvest levels have been recommended. The population in the Anadyr drainage may represent a distinct species, and if this is true, it may be threatened due to overfishing and drilling/boring especially in the El'gygytgyn lake. Taxonomic research is therefore also recommended.