The Arctic char is closely related to both salmon and lake trout, and has many characteristics of both. The fish is highly variable in colour, depending on the time of year and the environmental conditions of the lake where it lives. The appearance of Arctic char differs between populations. The dorsal side of the Arctic char is dark in its colour while the ventral varies from red, yellow, and white. Arctic char has a distinct size dimorphism, dwarf and giant. Dwarf Arctic char weigh between and average a length of , while giant Arctic char weigh between and average in length. Individual fish can weigh or more with record-sized fish having been taken by anglers in Northern Canada, where it is known as ' or ' in Inuktitut. Generally, whole market-sized fish are between . Male and female Arctic char are the same size. The flesh colour can range from a bright red to a pale pink.