Species learning profile
Cutthroat trout
Oncorhynchus clarkii
Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) is a freshwater fish associated with river habitat in North America. Red-orange slashes beneath the jaw give this trout its common name.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau douce
- Habitat
- Rivière
- Longueur maximale
- 99 cm
- Répartition
- Amérique du Nord
- Famille
- Salmonidae
- Ordre
- Salmoniformes
Observe
How to identify Cutthroat trout
- Red-orange slashes beneath the jaw give this trout its common name.
- Guide context: river habitat in North America.
- Reported maximum length: 99 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
Occupies streams, lakes, and some coastal waters
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Insects, crustaceans, and small fish.
Ecological role
Connects insect and fish food webs in western watersheds.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Cutthroat trout peut atteindre environ 99 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 Cutthroat 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