It is a demersal form of freshwater whitefish that feeds on benthic invertebrates.

[2] It spawns in late autumn, and can reach a length of 55 cm maximum.

[3] In the strict sense the name C. widegreni refers to a population of whitefish that inhabits relatively deep waters (50–150 m) of Lake Ladoga in Northwest Russia.

[1] More often the range is thought to comprise coastal areas of the Baltic Sea (except southern section of the Swedish coast) and several larger lakes in Sweden (e.g. Vänern, Vättern) and Northwest Russia (Onega).

[2][4] It is one of several types of whitefish co-distributed in Northern Europe and exhibiting different breeding and feeding habits.