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, while others are entirely freshwater, inhabiting lakes and rivers throughout their lives. 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 light-colored 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 one of the most actively debated topics within salmonid research. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many isolated char populations were described as separate species based on differences in body shape, coloration, size, habitat, or feeding ecology. Many of these populations are restricted to a single lake or small group of lakes and evolved their distinctive characteristics after the last Ice Age, when retreating glaciers isolated populations across northern and central Europe.
Modern genetic research has shown that many of these historically described species, particularly those from the British Isles, Iceland, and Scandinavia, are more accurately regarded as localized forms, ecotypes, or morphs of the Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), rather than distinct species. At the same time, research supports the recognition of several truly distinct European species, including the Alpine char (Salvelinus umbla), Deepwater char (Salvelinus profundus), and Ammersee char (Salvelinus evasus).
As scientific research continues, the classification of European char is likely to be refined further. Throughout this website, species are presented according to the current weight of scientific evidence while also acknowledging historically used names where they remain relevant.

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