Salvelinus. 

Salvelinus, commonly known as char, is a genus of freshwater fish within the family Salmonidae. Some species are anadromous, meaning they spend part of their adult life at sea before returning to freshwater to spawn, with juveniles typically remaining in rivers and lakes for one or more years before migrating. The genus has a circumpolar distribution across the cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most char species inhabit cold, clear, oxygen-rich lakes and rivers, and are recognized by their dark bodies marked with pale cream, pink, orange, or red spots. Compared to trout of the genus Salmo, char generally display lighter spots on a darker background. According to FishBase, more than 40 species are currently recognized within the genus Salvelinus. However, the taxonomy of European char remains highly debated. Modern genetic research suggests that many historically described European “species” are in fact localized forms, morphs, or ecotypes within the Arctic char complex (Salvelinus alpinus). These isolated populations likely evolved their unique characteristics after the last Ice Age, when retreating glaciers left behind separated lakes and river systems across northern and central Europe. Currently, the strongest evidence supports only a small number of clearly distinct native European species, while many other named taxa are now regarded as local endemic forms of Arctic char.

Recognized species of the genus Salvelinus native to Europe.

Salvelinus alpinus (circumpolar Arctic and subarctic regions)
Salvelinus evasus (Ammersee - Germany)
Salvelinus profundus (Lake Constance - Austria, Germany and Switzerland)
Salvelinus umbla (Alpine lakes - Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland)

Localized forms and historically described taxa of the Salvelinus alpinus complex.

Salvelinus colii (Ireland)
Salvelinus faroensis (Lake Leynavatn - Faroe Islands)
Salvelinus fimbriatus (Lough Coomsaharn - Ireland)
Salvelinus gracillimus (Loch of Girlsta - Scotland)
Salvelinus grayi (Lough Melvin - Ireland)
Salvelinus inframundus (Hoy, Isle of Skye and Orkney - Scotland)
Salvelinus killinensis (Loch Doine and Loch Killin - Scotland)
Salvelinus lepechini (Finland, Norway and Sweden)
Salvelinus lonsdalii (Haweswater Reservoir - England)
Salvelinus mallochi (Loch Scourie and Loch Shin - Scotland)
Salvelinus maxillaris (Scotland)
Salvelinus murta (lake Þingvallavatn - Iceland)
Salvelinus neocomensis (Lake Neuchâtel - Switzerland) (Extinct)
Salvelinus obtusus (Lakes of Killarney - Ireland)
Salvelinus perisii (Wales)
Salvelinus salvelinoinsularis (Bear Island - Norway)
Salvelinus struanensis (Loch Ericht and Loch Rannoch - Scotland)
Salvelinus thingvallensis (lake Þingvallavatn - Iceland)
Salvelinus willughbii (Cumbria - England)
Salvelinus youngeri (Loch Eck - Scotland)

Many of these localized forms are still scientifically important despite uncertain species status. Several evolved unique ecological adaptations in isolated lakes after the retreat of the glaciers, making the Salvelinus alpinus complex one of the best-known examples of postglacial diversification and adaptive radiation in freshwater fish.

Other species of this genus.

This list will be updated