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The cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus sp.) is a group of four fish species [4][5] of the family Salmonidae native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean, Rocky Mountains, and Great Basin in North America. These four species are the Coastal (O. clarkii), Westslope (O. lewisi), Lahontan (O. henshawi), and the Rocky Mountain (O. virginalis).
Historically, cutthroat trout was considered one species (Oncorhynchus clarkii).[2] [9] However, recent genetic, taxonomic, and geologic [10] evidence has determined that cutthroat trout should be divided into four species, with each (except for the coastal cutthroat) having multiple subspecies corresponding to the evolutionary lineages [11] found within major river basins.
Their range has been reduced by overfishing and habitat destruction due to mining, grazing, and logging, and population densities have been reduced by competition with non-native brook, brown, and rainbow trout since these were introduced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii), also known as the sea-run cutthroat trout, blue-back trout or harvest trout, is one of the four species [3][4] of cutthroat trout found in Western North America. The coastal cutthroat trout occurs in four distinct forms. A semi- anadromous or sea-run form is the most well known.
The Lahontan cutthroat is native to the drainages of the Truckee River, Humboldt River, Carson River, Walker River, Quinn River, and several smaller rivers in the Great Basin of North America. [6] These were tributaries of ancient and massive Lake Lahontan during the ice ages until the lake shrank to remnants such as Pyramid Lake and Walker ...
Westslope cutthroat are common in both headwaters lake and stream environments. They feed mainly on insects and zooplankton. The average length of the fish is about 8-12 inches (30 cm) and rarely exceeds 18 inches (46 cm). The skin has small dark freckle-like spots clustered towards the tail, and is mostly orange-hued.
List of fishes of Yellowstone National Park
The greenback cutthroat's maximum size is 18 inches (46 cm). It has the largest spots of all cutthroats and is reported to have the most brilliant spawning coloration. Like all cutthroats, it has red coloration in the area of the lower jaw and throat. Historically, it has been reported to grow as large as 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb).