Species learning profile
Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is a freshwater fish associated with river habitat in North America. Its lower fins carry a crisp white leading edge.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau douce
- Habitat
- Rivière
- Longueur maximale
- 86 cm
- Répartition
- Amérique du Nord
- Famille
- Salmonidae
- Ordre
- Salmoniformes
Observe
How to identify Brook trout
- Its lower fins carry a crisp white leading edge.
- Guide context: river habitat in North America.
- Reported maximum length: 86 cm — up to about the length of a guitar. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with river habitat across North America. Flow, seasonal floods, connected side channels, and access to spawning reaches all shape its river habitat.
Behavior
Prefers cold, oxygen-rich streams
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small fish.
Ecological role
Signals high-quality cold-water habitat.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Brook trout peut atteindre environ 86 cm et vit souvent près de Rivière.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
River fish depend on connected water. Dams, blocked migrations, pollution, and altered flow can matter even when the channel still looks wet.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Brook trout in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections