Trout refers to some species of the Salmoninae subfamily, which are fish that can be found in freshwater, saltwater, or both. The well-known salmon is a member of the trout family and, unlike other trout members, prefers to stay in salt water.
Here are some highlights of famous members of the trout family explained in alphabetical order.
#1 – Adriatic Trout, psalm obtusirostris
Other name(s): Adriatic salmon, softmouth trout, softnose trout. This is a freshwater and saltwater fish that comes from the genus Salmo, the salmonid fish species.
The Adriatic trout can be found endemic in the rivers of the western Balkans of the area of southeastern Europe. They are considered to be a favorite game fish, pursued by anglers for sport for recreation and fun.
Physical Characteristics: Elongated snout with a small, soft mouth. They are large in size and have great body depth. Body colors are mostly a combination of red and green with black dots. Unlike the brown trout, the Adriatic trout does not have vertical stripes on the body.
#2 – Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis
Other Name(s): Spotted Trout, Spotted Trout, Mountain Trout, Squaretail Trout, Mountain Trout, Char. Brook trout are of the genus Salvelinus. The brook trout is not actually a trout, but it is a char like the other so-called trout fish; lake trout, dolly varden trout, and arctic char.
Brook trout can be found in clear water creeks or creeks (hence their name), spring ponds, and lakes. It lives in a wide area of the eastern part of North America, but also extends to the south of the region.
Physical Characteristics: Greenish-brown in color with a unique marbled pattern of yellow spots throughout the trunk that may extend to the rear fin or even the tail. It has a reddish belly and lower end. These lower fins show a white leading edge. During spawning, the male’s belly turns extremely orange to red. The maximum recorded length and weight of this fish are 86 cm and 6.6 kg respectively.
#3 – Brown Trout, psalm trutta
Other Name(s): German Brown Trout, Brownie, Lake Trout. The brown trout is the same species as the sea trout. The difference is in their habitat, where the brown trout is more of a freshwater fish, while the sea trout is an anadromous migratory fish, where it lives in the sea but spawns in freshwater.
Brown trout is native to Europe and Asia, but you can also find it farmed in lands far from the sea such as Estonia and Greece. The best area for brown trout fishing in the state is in White River, Arkansas, where you can find many resorts that provide you with various trout fishing facilities.
This brown trout is the most popular game fish. The largest brown trout ever caught weighed in at 40 pounds, 4 ounces, from Little Red River, Arkansas in 1992, which is a record held by Howard Collin. Brown trout grow fast as they eat almost anything; larvae, pupae, nymphs and adult insects. The largest trout even eat small fish, frogs, and snakes. Many brown trout can reach an average weight of between 12 and 20 pounds and some can reach an age of 20 years.
Physical Characteristics: It has a brown to gold color on its back with a cream to white belly. Their color scheme patterns are yellow, gray, black, and sometimes with red spots. These round dots always have a white border. Between the back and the middle twist you can find an obvious spotted fat gland. On the other hand, on its square-shaped tail there are no spots or other marks on its back that differentiate it from other trout.
#4 – Cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii
Other Name(s): Clark’s Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Shorttail Trout, Redthroat Trout, Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. This freshwater fish of the genus Oncorrhynchus probably has about 15 subspecies with different names, all of which are hunted as sport fish by fly fishermen.
Cutthroat trout are native to the western part of North America. The killer evolved into many subspecies and resides along the Pacific Northwest coast, in the Cascade Range, the Great Basin, and throughout the Rocky Mountains. Some of them are anadromous populations, but most of the subspecies are true non-migratory freshwater fish.
Physical Characteristics: This fish can be found in many sizes, colors, and habitats. Depending on the subspecies, the basic color of its back can vary from gold, gray to green. The distinguishing diagnostic feature of the killer is the red, pink, or orange stripe below the lower jaw.
#5 – Flathead Trout, Salmo platycephalus
Other name(s): Ala balik, Turkish trout. This is an endemic population in the southeastern part of Turkey. It resides in three streams of the Zamanti River Branch in the Seyhan River Basin. Despite their abundant population, they are subject to habitat loss due to their small range. Another threat is the predation of young rainbow trout introduced to this region.
This declining population is listed as critically endangered and since it is a unique form of trout derived from brown trout, it needs some protection.
#6 – Golden trout, Oncorhynchus aguabonita
Other Name(s): Kern River Trout, California Golden Trout. The golden trout, native to California, is actually a subspecies of the rainbow trout. It resides on Golden Trout Creek, Volcano Creek, and the South Fork Kern River.
It is a pity that this species is borderline for being specified as threatened. The cause of this population decline is the introduction of the brook trout, which wins the battle for food, the introduction of the brown trout, which turns it into prey, and hybridization with the introduced rainbow trout.
Despite their declining population, golden trout once held their record at 70 cm in length and 5.1 kg in weight, which was caught by Charles S. Reed in 1948 at Cook Lake in the Wind River Range.
Physical Characteristics: The specific characteristic is their golden flanks with “parr markings” on both sides, which is a red horizontal line across the body of the trout with 10 dark oval markings. The rear, lateral and anal ends are marked with a white border. Its average size ranges between 15 and 30 cm.
#7 – Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss
Other Name(s): Black Spotted Trout, Rainbow Trout, Silver Trout, Rainbow Trout. This species is native to the rivers of the Pacific Ocean on both the Asian and North American sides. Rainbow trout is introduced for food and sport in more than 45 countries around the world. Rainbow trout are considered a fast-water fish, preferring fast runs and fast-moving areas of streams.
Introduced rainbow trout in some regions such as Australia, South America and southern Europe are contributing negative impacts to native fish species. This is by causing native fish for food to overtake them in the food race, transmitting some contagious diseases and hybridizing with other related species.
Physical Characteristics: Rainbow trout have a typical trout shape and spin with fat glands. The square shaped tail has black spots all over the tail with 10 – 12 rays on its anal side. He has a white mouth and gums.