Cutthroat trout
A group of Pacific trout native to western North America, known for red throat markings.
The cutthroat trout is a clade of four species within the salmon family, found in cold waters across western North America. Their name comes from distinctive red marks on the lower jaw, and they are popular targets for fly fishing anglers.
- Red throat markings give the cutthroat trout its common name.
- Four distinct species exist: Coastal, Westslope, Lahontan, and Rocky Mountain.
- Largest recorded specimen weighed 19 kg and measured 99 cm.
- Some coastal populations are semi-anadromous, living in both sea and river.
- Two subspecies are extinct; others are near threatened due to invasive species.
What it is
The cutthroat trout comprises four distinct species belonging to the salmon family. These fish are easily identified by bright red, pink, or orange streaks along the underside of their lower jaws. Adults vary significantly in size depending on their environment. Stream-dwelling individuals remain small, while those in large lakes can grow quite heavy. The largest recorded specimen was a Lahontan cutthroat weighing nearly nineteen kilograms. Their backs typically display shades of golden, gray, or green, helping them blend into rocky riverbeds.
Where it lives
These trout inhabit cold tributaries across western North America. Their historic range stretches from Alaska down through British Columbia and into northern California. They also live throughout the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin. Some coastal populations spend part of their lives in the ocean before returning to freshwater to breed. This semi-anadromous behaviour allows them to access richer food sources in marine environments during specific seasons.
How it lives
They prefer clear, well-oxygenated streams with gravel substrates for feeding and resting. Young fish eat zooplankton after hatching, while adults consume insects and smaller aquatic creatures. Cutthroats naturally interbreed with rainbow trout, creating fertile hybrids known as cutbows. These hybrids often retain the characteristic throat markings, making visual identification difficult. Predators include larger fish, birds, and mammals that hunt near the water's edge.
Breeding and life cycle
Spawning occurs in spring once water temperatures reach six to eight degrees Celsius. Females excavate nests called redds in clean gravel beds to protect their eggs. A single female may lay between two hundred and four thousand eggs. After fertilization, the embryos develop within the gravel for about a month. The young hatch as sac fry, absorbing nutrients before emerging to feed independently.
Fish and people
Anglers prize these fish for sport, particularly fly fishing enthusiasts. Several subspecies serve as official state fish in western United States states. Hatcheries raise cutthroats to restore declining wild populations and stock remote lakes for recreation. However, introducing them to non-native waters sometimes disrupts local ecosystems. Traditional names like Katpootl reflect their long-standing presence in indigenous cultures.
Status and threats
Many subspecies face threats from habitat degradation and competition with introduced fish species. Two subspecies have already gone extinct due to these pressures. Conservation efforts focus on protecting remaining native habitats and managing hybridization with rainbow trout. Some populations have lost over ninety percent of their original range. Ongoing genetic studies help identify unique evolutionary units to guide preservation strategies.
Questions people ask about Cutthroat trout
Why is it called a cutthroat trout?
The name comes from the distinctive red, pink, or orange linear marks found along the underside of the lower jaw and gill plates. These markings resemble a slash or cut, which inspired the common name first used by an outdoor writer in 1884.
How many species of cutthroat trout are there?
There are four recognized species: Coastal, Westslope, Lahontan, and Rocky Mountain cutthroat trout. Genetic studies separated them from a single classification into distinct species based on evolutionary lineages and geographic isolation.
Can cutthroat trout breed with other fish?
Yes, they naturally interbreed with rainbow trout to produce fertile hybrids called cutbows. They can also hybridize with Gila trout and Apache trout in overlapping regions. These hybrids often retain the characteristic red throat markings, complicating identification.
Where do cutthroat trout live?
They are native to western North America, ranging from Alaska to northern California and east to the Rocky Mountains. They inhabit cold, clear rivers with gravel bottoms. Some coastal types also spend time in the ocean before returning to freshwater to spawn.
Good reading and sources
- Cutthroat trout on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cutthroat trout", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
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