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Salmoniformes (Salmons) >
Salmonidae (Salmonids) > Salmoninae
Etymology: Salvelinus: Old name for char; it is the same root of german "saibling" = little salmon (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Regan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate; 60°N - 58°N, 4°W - 2°W
Europe: Orkney Islands (Heldale Water, Hoy Island), Scotland in UK (Loch Meallt, Isle of Skye). Considered extirpated on Orkney Islands since at least 1908, but no recent confirmation. This or a similar species has recently been found in Loch Meallt.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Distinguished from congeners in British Isles by the following combination of characters: mouth subterminal, lower jaw shorter than upper; blunt snout; steel-grey flank, belly white to pinkish or bright orange; flank with numerous whitish spots, mainly in upper half of body; pectoral and anal fins orange-brown to orange-red, pelvic to cherry-red, with white anterior margin (weakly in pectorals); pectoral fin about 2/3 of head length (Ref. 59043).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Occurs in a small eutrophic lake with depth of up to 3 m. Feeds on sticklebacks, molluscs and insect larvae. Attains a maximum size of up to about 22 cm SL (Ref. 59043).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. 646 pp. (Ref. 59043)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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