DSC_2861 Brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis) large spawning male. Brook char were introduced to NZ in the 1970s. Spawning fish this size are rarely seen - bright red on lower surfaces and fins and with with large ugly heads. Competition from trout has meant most brook char in NZ today are confined to marginal habitat in very small tributaries where populations comprise only small stunted fish *
DSC_2954 Brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis) small fish are characterised by large dark ‘parr’ markings along the sides with yellow and red spots on an almost pinkish body *
DSC_2855 Brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis) large spawning male. Brook char were introduced to NZ in the 1970s. Spawning fish this size are rarely seen - bright red on lower surfaces and fins and with with large ugly heads. Competition from trout has meant most brook char in NZ today are confined to marginal habitat in very small tributaries where populations comprise only small stunted fish *
