Pygmy whitefish are a glacial relict species that are known from two watersheds in Alberta. A total of eight specimens have been collected in Alberta: Two from Waterton Lake and six from four localities in upper Athabasca River as far downstream in Whitecourt. In other jurisdictions sch as BC and the NWT, pygmy whitefish are found in cold deep lakes similar to Waterton Lake. The species has also been reported from the Saskatchewan portion of Lake Athabasca. Little is known of the biology of pygmy whitefish in river systems except that they are found in relatively cold, fast mountain streams.