Fish · GBIF taxon 4284020
Dolly Varden
Salvelinus malmaAlso known as Dolly Varden Trout, Pacific Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden are cold-water chars distinguished by light pinkish or yellowish spots scattered across an olive-green body, turning brilliant shades of orange and red during autumn spawning. Many coastal populations migrate to the ocean to feed before returning to inland gravel beds to reproduce, while landlocked forms spend their entire lives in cold streams and alpine lakes. They play a vital ecological role in northern rivers by transferring marine nutrients into freshwater watersheds.
AnadromousCold-WaterFish
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aquatic Insects
- Salmon Eggs
- Small Fish
Predators
- Grizzly Bear
- River Otter
- Bald Eagle
ThreatsClimate warming, habitat degradation, and river obstruction
HabitatsCold mountain streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal marine waters
Life span10–16 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySalmonidae
- SpeciesSalvelinus malma
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by vibrant orange bellies and pink spots during autumn spawning in shallow gravel streams.
- Support conservation
- Keep distance from shallow stream beds during fall spawning and avoid stepping on gravel nests.
Responsible observation
- Polarized Lenses: Wear polarized sunglasses to spot fish resting in clear, fast-flowing gravel pools.
- Spawning Season: Observe late summer and autumn runs from stream banks without disturbing gravel spawning nests.
- Catch and Release: Use barbless hooks and keep fish submerged in cold water to minimize stress.
Close Relative Bart Gammet, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Anders Gravbrøt Finstad, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Genus Relative (c) James St. John, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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