Salvelinus killinensis


Salvelinus killinensis, also known as Haddy charr is a variety of char found in certain lakes in Scotland.
Salvelinus killinensis lives in Loch Killin, after which it is named. It is also found in Loch Doine and perhaps in Loch Builg as well. It lives in the deeper regions of the lakes, moving to shallower waters only during the spawning season.
Recently the presence of this charr has been reported in several other lakes of Scotland, although it may be not be Salvelinus killinensis, but another similar species.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of charrs is controversial. The Scottish authorities follow the practice which considers all the 200 Scottish charr populations, including that of Loch Killin, belonging to the single widespread circumpolar species Salvelinus alpinus. The IUCN Red List however follows division of Scottish charrs to several local species. In this view other putative Scottish charr species include Salvelinus gracillimus, Salvelinus mallochi, Salvelinus struanensis and Salvelinus youngeri, and further species would exist elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.

Description

Salvelinus killinensis grows to a length of. The snout is blunt and the upper jaw is slightly longer than the lower jaw. The dorsal surface is dull, olive-grey or bluish-grey with pale spots, shading to yellowish-white on the belly. The fins are yellowish to reddish-brown, with a white margin on the front of the anal and pelvic fins.

Ecology

This fish lives in the deepest parts of Loch Killin, which has a maximum depth of. The only time it is seen is around September when it moves to shallow waters to spawn. It feeds on such invertebrate prey as insect larvae, molluscs and crustaceans.