A high-Arctic char with vivid red bellies and white-edged fins. The northernmost-distributed freshwater fish in North America — found in lakes within a few hundred miles of the North Pole.

Also called: Iqaluk (Inuktitut)

Native status: Native; circumpolar Arctic

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 30–60 cm typical; sea-run forms to 100 cm
Weight1–10 kg typical; record 14.8 kg
LifespanWild 25 years; oldest verified 40+
OrderSalmoniformes
FamilySalmonidae

§ Encyclopedia

The Arctic char or Arctic charr is a cold-water fish in the family Salmonidae, native to alpine lakes, as well as Arctic and subarctic coastal waters in the Holarctic.

Source: Wikipedia — Arctic char Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Medium salmonid with light spots on dark olive-brown back; spawning fish develop brilliant red bellies, white-edged fins, and hooked male jaws. Fork in tail less deep than in trout.

Similar species. Brook Trout (vermiculations, not spots; white-edged fins similar). Bull Trout (different range). Lake Trout (larger, fork tail).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects (especially midges), crustaceans (amphipods), smaller fish (including own juveniles).

Behavior. Northernmost-distributed freshwater fish on Earth — found in lakes within 800 km of the North Pole. Multiple life-history forms: anadromous (sea-run), lake-dwelling, and stream-dwelling. Lake Hazen char (Ellesmere Island) live under permanent ice cover most of the year. Many high-Arctic populations are remnants from the last ice age, isolated in single lakes since glacial retreat.

§ Range

Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland

§ Habitat

Cold lakes and rivers, anadromous in some populations

§ Threats

Climate-driven Arctic warming, mining contamination, mercury bioaccumulation.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the arctic char is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support Arctic protection. Reduce mercury emissions. Buy only certified char from sustainable fisheries.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • Arctic Council CAFF
  • IUCN Red List 2010