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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).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 10 m (Ref. 59043). Polar; 65°N - 64°N, 22°W - 20°W
Europe: Lake Thingvalla, Iceland.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043); max. reported age: 17 years (Ref. 59043)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Distinguished from congeners in Iceland by the following characters: presence of parr marks in adults; flank dark brown with irregular golden or yellow spots, belly beige to yellowish, usually blackish markings on throat (not much difference between breeding and non-breeding coloration); pectoral fins black, other fins beige, caudal and dorsal fins with pale spots; snout blunt, rounded, about equal to eye diameter; mouth subinferior, upper jaw projecting (Ref. 59043).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Inhabits shallow littoral zone, with water 0-10 m deep. A nocturnal species which hides between stones during the day. Feeds predominantly on snails, and to a lesser extend on benthic insects (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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