Salvelinus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family, commonly known as trout
2. Characterized by a streamlined body and often noted for its distinctive coloration and markings
3. This group of fish is popular among anglers and is primarily found in cold, clear lakes and streams

Etymology: Char are a close cousin of trout, and the genus name records a Latinized version of an old name for them. The scientist John Richardson used "Salvelinus" in 1836 in his survey of North American fauna, and the name was then applied to the group as a formal genus. Its exact ancestry is uncertain, but it is generally linked to regional names for char in the Alps and northern Italy, such as "salvelino," which were themselves probably related to the Latin "salmo," meaning salmon. The genus has a fact that surprises many anglers: despite its common name "trout," it includes the brook trout and Arctic char, which are more closely related to each other than either is to the true trout of the genus "Salmo." The name therefore preserves an older regional label rather than a precise description of the fish's relationships.

Synonyms: char, brook trout, lake trout, dolly varden