Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma)
Identification:
Base of dorsal fin equal to or longer than anal fin base. Upper jaw extends at least to back margin of eye and sometimes further. Colour is variable. Freshwater populations have back and upper sides olive-green to brown. Sides bright red in spawning adults. Sea-run adults have back, upper head and upper sides dark blue, ventral surfaces silvery to white. Paired fins and anal fin are white or creamy on leading edge with a single thin black line and then thin red line behind it. Dorsal fin is dusky, without black markings. Spot on sides, no haloes.
Life History:
Anadromous and non-anadromous populations. Spawning occurs in the fall, from September to early November. Anadromous populations enter the river mouths from May to December. Spawning sites are usually gravel beds. Freshwater spawners move from large lakes into inlet rivers around the same time. Fecundity varies, can be as high as 8000 per female. Most adults survive spawning, and do so for several years. May hybridize with brook trout.
Feeding
: Stream-resident young usually feed on adult and immature insects, snails, and leeches, also salmon eggs and young salmon. Sea-resident individuals feed on young salmon and other fish, also insects, and crustaceans
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