Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus alpinus)

Scientific name: Salvelinus alpinus alpinus Linnaeus, 1758

Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus alpinus)

The Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus alpinus) is a freshwater fish of the family Salmonidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–16°C (39–61°F).

Arctic char care at a glance

Temperature
4–16°C (39–61°F)

Biology

Anadromous forms spend a considerable time of their lives at sea; non-migratory populations remain in lakes and rivers. Found in rivers, estuaries and lakes with cold, clear water. Occurs mainly in lakes. At the sea, lives along coasts. Inhabits deep runs and pools of medium to large rivers, and lakes. Nerito-pelagic. Freshwater populations feed on planktonic crustaceans, amphipods, mollusks, insects and fishes. Anadromous individuals feed little in freshwater and never feed during migrations. Spawning usually takes place on pebble to stone bottom in lakes. Riverine stocks spawn in rivers with slow current (02.-0.8 m/s), but there are some riverine anadromous stocks (in Norway) which spawn in fast-flowing waters of riffles. Extremely sensitive to water pollution (cold water and oxygen oriented). Marketed fresh, smoked, canned, and frozen. Eaten sautéed, broiled, fried, microwaved and baked. Parasitized by tapeworm

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Salvelinus alpinus alpinus
Family
Salmonidae (Salmonids)
Order
Salmoniformes (Salmons)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
107
Common length
40.0
Depth range
30–70 m (98–230 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; anadromous; depth range 30 - 70 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Europe: northern Atlantic southward to southern Norway, also Iceland and southern Greenland. Isolated populations in Northern UK, Scandinavia, Finland and the Alps. North America: Landlocked populations in Quebec, Canada and in Maine and New Hampshire in USA
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=7-10; tmax=24; Fec=400)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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