Arctic char
Salvelinus alpinus
Salvelinus alpinus, commonly known as Arctic char, is a cold-water fish that lives farther north than any other freshwater fish species.
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About this species
Species identity
Salvelinus alpinus, commonly known as Arctic char, is a cold-water fish that lives farther north than any other freshwater fish species. It belongs to the salmon family and is closely related to salmon and trout.
This species is highly adaptable. Some populations live their entire lives in cold lakes, while others migrate between rivers and the sea. Sea-migrating individuals feed in coastal Arctic waters during the short summer, then return to freshwater to overwinter and reproduce.
Arctic char feed on insects, small crustaceans, and fish. During the breeding season, many develop striking colors — especially bright red or orange on the belly — which are used in mating displays.
Because it thrives in very cold environments, Arctic char is an important species in northern ecosystems and has long been a valuable food source for Indigenous peoples across the Arctic.
Where it lives
Arctic char is found across the Arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs in northern North America, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Siberia.
It lives in cold rivers and lakes and, in migratory populations, in nearby Arctic coastal waters. Its distribution closely follows regions shaped by glaciers and long, cold winters.
Role in the ecosystem
Arctic char helps explain how marine food webs function through its ecological role, habitat use, and connection to broader ecosystem change.
Scientific reference
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Ocean Literacy Connections
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