The Coomsaharn char (Salvelinus fimbriatus; the spellings Coomasaharn and charr are also used; Irish: ruabhreac Chom Sathairn) is a species of lacustrine char fish in the family Salmonidae.[3]
It is only located in Lough Coomsaharn, County Kerry, Ireland.[4][5]
The English word "char[r]" is thought to derive from Old Irish ceara/cera meaning "[blood] red,"[6] referring to its pink-red underside.[7][8] This would also connect with its Welsh name torgoch, "red belly."[9]
Lough Coomsaharn (/ˌkuːməˈsæhərən/) derives its name from the Irish Com Sathairn, "hollow of Saturday(?)".[10]
Salvelinus fimbriatus spawns in November/December and feeds on zooplankton. It is distinguished from other Salvelinus in Ireland by large eyes,[11] having 27–30 gill rakers, with 16–20 on the lower part (hence the species name fimbriatus, "fringed").[12] Also, its body depth is 20–25% of snout length, the snout is conical, and the lower jaw is not included in the upper one; an adaptation that helps it to feed on plankton.[13]
The Coomsaharn char are a remnant fish of the Last Ice Age.[14]
The Coomsaharn char (Salvelinus fimbriatus; the spellings Coomasaharn and charr are also used; Irish: ruabhreac Chom Sathairn) is a species of lacustrine char fish in the family Salmonidae.
It is only located in Lough Coomsaharn, County Kerry, Ireland.
class=notpageimage| Location of Lough Coomsaharn in Ireland
