Coomsaharn char facts for kids
The Coomsaharn char (Salvelinus fimbriatus) is a special type of fish. It belongs to the salmon family, which includes salmon and trout. This unique fish lives only in one lake in the world! That lake is called Lough Coomsaharn. It is located in County Kerry, in the country of Ireland.
Quick facts for kids Coomsaharn char |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Salvelinus
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| Species: |
fimbriatus
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Contents
What's in a Name?
The Name "Char"
The word "char" comes from an old Irish word. That word was ceara or cera. It meant "blood red." This name likely refers to the fish's pink-red belly. In Wales, a similar fish is called torgoch, which also means "red belly."
Lough Coomsaharn's Name
The lake where this fish lives, Lough Coomsaharn, also has an Irish name. It comes from the Irish words Com Sathairn. This might mean "hollow of Saturday."
About the Coomsaharn Char
The Coomsaharn char is a fascinating fish. It lays its eggs in November or December. This is how new char fish are born.
What It Eats
The Coomsaharn char mostly eats tiny animals. These animals float in the water. They are called zooplankton.
Special Features
This char has some special features. These features help scientists tell it apart from other char fish in Ireland.
- It has large eyes.
- It has 27 to 30 gill rakers. These are comb-like parts inside its gills. They help the fish filter tiny food from the water. About 16 to 20 of these are on the lower part of its gills. This is why its scientific name is fimbriatus, meaning "fringed."
- Its body is not very deep. Its depth is about 20 to 25% of its snout length.
- Its snout (nose area) is shaped like a cone.
- Its lower jaw fits inside its upper jaw. This special mouth shape helps it catch tiny zooplankton.
A Fish from the Ice Age
The Coomsaharn char is a very old type of fish. It is a "remnant" fish. This means it is a leftover from a much colder time. It survived the Last Ice Age. This was a time when large parts of the Earth were covered in ice.
See also
In Spanish: Salvelinus fimbriatus para niños
