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Home/Species/ Little Kern Golden Trout

Oncorhynchus aguabonita whitei

(Evermann, 1906)

Little Kern Golden Trout

T3T3 (GNRT3) Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
T3T3Global Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103612
Element CodeAFCHA0209B
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSubspecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderSalmoniformes
FamilySalmonidae
GenusOncorhynchus
Synonyms
Oncorhynchus mykiss whitei(Evermann, 1906)Salmo whiteiEvermann, 1906
Concept Reference
Moyle, P. B. 2002. Inland fishes of California. Revised and expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley. xv + 502 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Oncorhynchus aguabonita is recognized as distinct from O. mykiss (Page and Burr 2011; Page et al. 2023; Campbell et al. 2023). Three subspecies are recognized: aguabonita, whitei, and gilberti. Campbell et al. (2023) refer to these as the Golden Trout Complex. The three lineages originate from the same geographic area and are placed together based on population genetics, phylogenetic frameworks, and morphological data (Campbell et al. 2023).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-09-26
Change Date2025-09-26
Edition Date2025-09-26
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2013); K. Hunting (2022); minor rev. M. Ormes (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
This species occupies a very restricted range but is the subject of intensive management and reintroduction efforts. After extirpation form most historic streams, populations now exist in several areas. Threats have been reduced to low levels.
Range Extent Comments
The Little Kern Golden Trout’s range includes the Little Kern River Drainage (the Little Kern River and its tributaries and Clicks Creek) in the Golden Trout Wilderness of Sequoia National Forest and Coyote Creek and its tributaries (transplants) in Sequoia National Park, Tulare County, California. The current range extent of the little Kern golden trout includes three HUC 12 watersheds capturing all known occupied streams and consisting of about 345 km2 (Santos 2015).
Occurrences Comments
The Little Kern golden trout distribution consists of 2 occurrences: Little Kern River watershed and Coyote Creek, Tulare County, California, USA.
Threat Impact Comments
There are currently two grazing allotments adjacent to and in Little Kern Golden Trout critical habitat and Little Kern River watershed. While management prescriptions are in place to minimize grazing impacts, they are not always followed, and the condition of the watershed has not appreciably improved since listing (USFWS 2011). Unmanaged grazing can result in channel incision reducing cover and feeding habitat, reduced water quality from cattle defecating in streams and meadows and releasing sediment through walking through waterways and impacts to riparian vegetation.

There are over 50 miles of recreational trails (hiking, biking, off-road vehicles) within Little Kern Golden Trout critical habitat. Improperly constructed roads and trails can lead to increased sedimentation within streams, introduction of pollutants and contaminants, and mechanical degradation of supporting meadows and riparian areas.

Due to reduced genetic variation and introgression (see Stevens 2007; Stephens and May 2010), Little Kern golden trout populations may be particularly vulnerable to stochastic events and/or changing habitat conditions associated with climate change. Predicted outcomes of climate change imply that negative impacts on trout will occur through increases in stream temperatures, decreases in stream flow, and broader changes to the stream hydrograph (USFWS 2011).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Small, clear, cool, swift-flowing streams (Matthews and Moseley 1990). Little Kern golden trout require cool, oxygenated water with significant clean gravel for reproduction (USFWS 2011).

Reproduction

Spawns usually in late June; males are sexually mature in about two years, females in three years (Matthews and Moseley 1990).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3.1 - Nomadic grazingRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge (31-70%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge (31-70%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (1)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
References (21)
  1. Behnke, R. J. 1980. Monograph of the native trouts of the genus SALMO of western North America. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver.
  2. Behnke, R. J. 1992. Native trout of western North America. American Fisheries Society Monograph 6. xx + 275 pp.
  3. Behnke, R. J. 2002. Trout and salmon of North America. The Free Press, New York, New York. 359 pp.
  4. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2022. Element Subnational Ranking Form in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 2025).
  5. Campbell, M.A., E. Habibi, G. Auringer, M. Stephens, J. Rodzen. K.W. Conway and A.J. Finger. 2023. Molecular systematics of Redband Trout from genome-wide DNA sequencing substantiates the description of a new taxon (Salmonidae: <i>Oncorhynchus mykiss calisulat</i>) from the McCloud River. Zootaxa 5254(1): 1-29.
  6. Christenson, D. P. 1984. The revised fishery management plan for the Little Kern Golden Trout. California Fish and Game, Region 4. 36 pp.
  7. Jelks, H. L., S. J. Walsh, N. M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D. A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N. E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J. S. Nelson, S. P. Platania, B. A. Porter, C. B. Renaud, J. Jacobo Schmitter-Soto, E. B. Taylor, and M.L. Warren, Jr. 2008. Conservation status of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fishes. Fisheries 33(8):372-407.
  8. Matthews, J.R. and C.J. Moseley (eds.). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, Mussels, Crustaceans, Snails, Insects, and Arachnids. xiii + pp. 561-1180. Beacham Publications, Inc., Washington, D.C.
  9. Moyle, P. B. 1976a. Inland fishes of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 405 pp.
  10. Moyle, P. B. 2002. Inland fishes of California. Revised and expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley. xv + 502 pp.
  11. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
  12. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  13. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  14. Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
  15. Santos, N. 2015. Species range layer for Little Kern golden trout. Univ. of Cal. Davis. GIS data depicting HUC 12 watersheds with presence types for Extant Range (expert opinion). California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Biological Information and Observation System (BIOS), ds 1299. https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/bios6/
  16. Smith, G. R., and R. F. Stearley. 1989. The classification and scientific names of rainbow and cutthroat trouts. Fisheries (Bethesda) 14(1):4-10.
  17. Stephens, M. R. 2007. Systematics, genetics, and conservation of golden trout. Ph.D. dissertation. University of California, Davis.
  18. Stephens, M. R., and B. P. May. 2010. Final report: Genetic analysis of California native trout (Phase 2). Report to California Department of Fish and Game. Genomic Variation Laboratory, University of California, Davis. 24 pp.
  19. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
  20. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2011. Little Kern golden Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss whitei</i>) 5-year review: summary and evaluation. USFS, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, Sacramento, California.
  21. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Little Kern golden Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss whitei</i>): 5-year review: summary and evaluation. USFS, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, Sacramento, California. 11 pp.