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Oncorhynchus clarkii

(Richardson, 1836)

Coastal Cutthroat Trout

G4Apparently Secure Found in 58 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102506
Element CodeAFCHA0208A
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderSalmoniformes
FamilySalmonidae
GenusOncorhynchus
COSEWICPS:T,SC
Synonyms
Oncorhynchus clarki(Richardson, 1836)Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkiiRichardson, 1836
Other Common Names
Truite fardée côtière (FR)
Concept Reference
Smith, G. R., and R. F. Stearley. 1989. The classification and scientific names of rainbow and cutthroat trouts. Fisheries (Bethesda) 14(1):4-10.
Taxonomic Comments
This a narrow concept of Oncorhynchus clarkii. Until a full, modern systematic revision can be completed, an interim classification of the Oncorhynchus clarkii species complex by Markle (2018) recognizes four taxa as distinct, clarkii, lewisi, henshawi, and virginalis. This treatment has been accepted by the American Fisheries Society (Page et al. 2023). Under this arrangement, there are no subspecies of Oncorhynchus clarkii, but (Johnson et al. 1999) recognize six Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date1997-11-10
Change Date1996-09-25
Edition Date1997-11-10
Edition AuthorsT. Hopkins, P. Moyle, and G. Hammerson (1997)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Lack of adequate population estimates. Vulnerable to anthropogenic degradation of headwater streams and spawning areas. Difficult to distinguish from syntopic rainbow trout/steelhead.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in small coastal streams from the Eel River, Humboldt County, California, north to the Prince William Sound area, Alaska, including numerous islands with suitable habitat off the coast of British Columbia and southern Alaska (Moyle et al. 1989, Behnke 1992). It typically does not occur farther inland than about 150 km (Behnke 1992). Both sea-run and anadromous stocks occur throughout the range.
Threat Impact Comments
Threats include habitat degradation (e.g., resulting from logging) and overfishing; for populations above Bonneville Dam, dam passage takes a toll; in many areas, native stocks have been eroded by introductions of hatchery stock (Nehlsen et al. 1991). In Oregon, the effects of clear-cutting (sedimentation, reduced cover, increased temperature) depressed populations for 6-8 years (see Behnke 1992). Can withstand catch-and-release fishing if not too frequent.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Differs from all other trout by its densely packed profusion of small to medium-sized spots of irregular (not round) shape, which are distributed more or less evenly over the sides of the body, onto the head, and often onto the ventral surface and anal fin, though in sea-run individuals silvery skin deposits often obliterate or mask body spots (Benhke 1992). Does not develop the brilliant colors of some interior subspecies (Behnke 1992).

Habitat

Requires small, low gradient coastal streams and estuarine habitats; well-shaded streams with water temperatures below 18 C are optimal (Moyle et al. 1989). Some may spend entire life in freshwater (many of these live in lakes), but most are anadromous (summer in saltwater). In summer, most individuals in streams are of the first-year age class; a few may be older nonanadromous fish and anadromous fish landlocked by rapidly receding water levels (Moyle et al. 1989). In marine habitats, generally remains close to the coast, usually remaining within estuary.

Spawns in streams on clean, small gravel substrates; females dig multiple redds, cover eggs after spawning. After emerging, fry move into larger rivers (or lakes), migrate to sea during their first year (or sometimes in second or third year) (Moyle et al. 1989).

Ecology

As evidenced by indicative scarring, predation at sea may be a significant cause of natural mortality (see Behnke 1992).

Reproduction

Main time of spawning typically is late winter or early spring, though May spawning has been reported for one area in Oregon (Bond, in Behnke 1992). Eggs hatch after 6-7 weeks; hatchlings emerge from gravel in 1-2 weeks (March-June); first breeds at 2-4 years, lives 4-7 years (Moyle et al. 1989). In Oregon, sea-run trout typically migrate to salt water in the late spring or early summer at age 2 or age 3 (though some may never go to sea); after 2-5 months in the sea, they return to rivers (Behnke 1992). The timing of migrations, age at migrations, length of time spent at sea, and spawning time vary among stocks and geographical areas (Behnke 1992). Reportedly, about 40% survive first spawning (see Stearley 1992); however, Behnke (1992) reported lower values of 5-30%, varying with angling pressure; 12-17% survived between second and third and third and fourth spawnings in a stream little used by anglers (see Behnke 1992). Sea-run trout attain a maximum age of about 10 years (Behnke 1992). See Stearley (1992) for a discussion of the historical ecology and life history evolution of Pacific salmons and trouts (Oncorhynchus).
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4B,NUN,NUM
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS2Yes
British ColumbiaS3Yes
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
AlaskaS4Yes
ArizonaSNANo
CaliforniaS3Yes
OregonS3Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
Roadless Areas (58)
Alaska (28)
AreaForestAcres
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
Central WrangellTongass National Forest13,397
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
CrystalTongass National Forest18,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
East MitkofTongass National Forest8,795
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
LindenbergTongass National Forest25,855
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
ManzanitaTongass National Forest8,401
North EtolinTongass National Forest40,993
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
Pavlof-East PointTongass National Forest5,399
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Rocky PassTongass National Forest78,163
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Thorne RiverTongass National Forest72,983
West WrangellTongass National Forest10,291
California (6)
AreaForestAcres
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou ASix Rivers National Forest1,017
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
Oregon (13)
AreaForestAcres
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Chucksney MountainWillamette National Forest15,369
CornpatchWillamette National Forest7,346
Drift CreekSiuslaw National Forest6,333
FairviewUmpqua National Forest7,417
French Pete (a)Willamette National Forest1,668
French Pete (b)Willamette National Forest1,186
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
Middle SantiamWillamette National Forest7,316
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
Waldo - FujiWillamette National Forest15,273
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
Washington (11)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Green MountainOlympic National Forest4,617
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
SiouxonGifford Pinchot National Forest12,773
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
References (15)
  1. Allendorf, F. W., and R. F. Leary. 1988. Conservation and distribution of genetic variation in a polytypic species, the cutthroat trout. Conservation Biology 2:170-184.
  2. Behnke, R. J. 1992. Native trout of western North America. American Fisheries Society Monograph 6. xx + 275 pp.
  3. Gyllensten, U., and A. C. Wilson. 1987. Mitochondrial DNA of salmonids: inter- and intraspecific variability detected with restriction enzymes. Pages 301-317 in N. Ryman and F. Utter, editors. Population genetics and fishery management. University of Washington Press, Seattle.
  4. Hooton, B. 1997. Status of coastal cutthroat trout in Oregon. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland, Information Reports 97-2. ii + 27 pp.
  5. 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.
  6. Johnson, O. W., M. H. Ruckelshaus, W. S. Grant, F. W. Waknitz, A. M. Garrett, G. J. Bryant, K. Neely, and J. J. Hard. 1999. Status review of coastal cutthroat trout from Washington, Oregon, and California. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-37. 292 pp. Online: Available: https://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/25/7094_06282012_100420_Johnson.et.al.1999.pdf
  7. Markle, D. F. 2018. An interim classification of the Cutthroat Trout complex,<i>Oncorhynchus clarkii</i> sensu lato, with comments on nomenclature. Pages 181-197 in P. Trotter, P. Bisson, L. Schultz, and B.Roper, editors. Cutthroat Trout: evolutionary biology and taxonomy.American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 36, Bethesda, Maryland.
  8. Moyle, P. B., J. E. Williams, and E. D. Wikramanayake. 1989. Fish species of special concern of California. Final report submitted to California Dept. of Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Division, Rancho Cordova. 222 pp.
  9. Nehlsen, W., J. E. Williams, and J. A. Lichatowich. 1991. Pacific salmon at the crossroads: stocks at risk from California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. Fisheries 16(2):4-21.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Smith, G. R., and R. F. Stearley. 1989. The classification and scientific names of rainbow and cutthroat trouts. Fisheries (Bethesda) 14(1):4-10.
  14. Stearley, R. F. 1992. Historical ecology of Salmoninae, with special reference to <i>Oncorhynchus</i>. Pages 622-658 in R.L. Mayden, editor. Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. xxvi + 969 pp.
  15. Thomas, J. W., Ward, J., Raphael, M.G., Anthony, R.G., Forsman, E.D., Gunderson, A.G., Holthausen, R.S., Marcot, B.G., Reeves, G.H., Sedell, J.R. and Solis, D.M. 1993. Viability assessments and management considerations for species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. The report of the Scientific Analysis Team. USDA Forest Service, Spotted Owl EIS Team, Portland Oregon. 530 pp.