Fish · GBIF taxon 5711980
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Oncorhynchus clarkiiAlso known as Cutthroat, Red-throated Trout, Clark's Trout
Cutthroat trout thrive in cold, well-oxygenated headwater streams and deep alpine lakes across western North America, displaying distinct scarlet slashes along the folds beneath their lower jaw. Populations exhibit diverse life histories, ranging from stream-resident fish that spend their lives in small rivulets to migratory forms that journey to large lakes or coastal estuaries to feed. They rely heavily on clean gravel beds for spawning and complex instream woody debris to shelter from swift currents while ambushing drifting invertebrates.
FreshwaterAquaticColdwater
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mayfly Nymphs
- Stonefly Nymphs
- Sculpins
Predators
- Osprey
- North American River Otter
- Bald Eagle
ThreatsHybridization with introduced rainbow trout, competition from non-native salmonids, habitat fragmentation, and logging runoff
HabitatsCold streams, alpine lakes, large rivers, and coastal estuaries
Life span4–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderSalmoniformes
- FamilySalmonidae
- GenusOncorhynchus
- SpeciesOncorhynchus clarkii
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
- Look for heavy black spotting concentrated toward the tail and bright orange-to-red slashes along the inner lower jaw.
- Support conservation
- Minimize handling time when angling, keep hands wet, and immediately report unrecorded pure-strain populations to local wildlife agencies.
Responsible observation
- Angling Etiquette: Use barbless single hooks and keep fish submerged in cold water to ensure high post-release survival.
- Spawning Season: Avoid wading through shallow gravel shallows during spring to prevent crushing incubating eggs in redds.
Neighbor Bart Gammet, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Public domain · cc0
Competitor (c) kirk gardner, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by kirk gardner · cc-by
Competitor (c) James St. John, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Genus (c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Bruce Deagle, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bruce Deagle · cc-by
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