Melvin charr
Salvelinus grayi
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
2
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvelinus_grayi
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Salmoniformes
Family
Salmonidae
Genus
Salvelinus
Melvin charr belongs to the family Salmonidae, order Salmoniformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Melvin charr faces severe threats from habitat degradation, invasive species introductions, and climate change impacts on cold-water lake ecosystems. The species' restricted range and specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities affecting pristine alpine and subarctic lake systems.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Cold, deep oligotrophic lakes in alpine and subarctic regions, typically at high elevations with clear, well-oxygenated waters. The species requires pristine lake ecosystems with specific temperature and water quality conditions characteristic of northern char habitats.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Melvin charr faces severe threats from habitat degradation, invasive species introductions, and climate change impacts on cold-water lake ecosystems. The species' restricted range and specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities affecting pristine alpine and subarctic lake systems.
Climate change and warming water temperatures
Habitat degradation from human activities
Invasive species competition and predation
Limited range and small population size
Water pollution and eutrophication
Found in 2 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Melvin charr (Salvelinus grayi). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/melvin-charr