Wildlife

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus):

Arctic char are found throughout arctic and subarctic regions worldwide. Within the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Arctic char are thought to be resident fish confined to the deepwater lakes, and do not migrate to the sea like the closely related Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma).

Arctic char have an elongated body shape with a rounded snout. Color can vary according to maturity, time of year, and genetic background. Usually the back of the arctic char is dark green to brown with a bronze cast. Pink to red spots can be found on the back and sides. White leading edges may extend down the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins, depending on the maturity of the fish. The arctic char has a deeply forked tail, narrow caudal peduncle, and no pigment in the mouth. During spawning, the Arctic char will become brightly colored, with a gold to orange or pinkish belly. Arctic char are closely related to Dolly Varden, and are very similar in appearance. Dolly Varden are different from arctic char in that they have black pigment in the mouth and gumline, a straight or very slightly forked tail, thick caudal peduncle, and more reddish spawning colors.

Arctic char feed on a variety of different food items from zooplankton and insects to fish. They are known to be highly piscivorus, feeding on juvenile salmon and their own young when available. Predators of the arctic char are otters, bears, birds, and humans.

In southwest Alaska, arctic char spawn during the fall on gravel shoals or in small streams adjacent to lakes. In preparation for spawning, the male establishes a territory that he defends against other fish. Prior to spawning the female selects a location within the male's territory and begins to dig the spawning nest or redd. The male courts the female by circling around her. He then moves alongside her and quivers. The mating pair eject eggs and milt into the pit area and the fertilized eggs are deposited into the gravel. Subsequent digging upstream covers the eggs and protects them from being dislodged by the current. The fertilized eggs will hatch after 2 months, usually before the spring. Young arctic char begin to feed after emerging from the gravel. Growth is slow for Arctic char in Alaska's cold, nutrient-poor lakes. Some arctic char have been known to live for over 20 years.

For more information:

Morrow, James E. 1980. The freshwater fishes of Alaska. Alaska Northwest Publishing Company. Anchorage Alaska.

Or, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's wildlife notebook pages.

Last updated: July 24, 2008