Native California Trout Species and Subspecies

At Risk Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout Indigenous to California

Sep 20, 2009 Ret Talbot

California is home to at least ten different native species, subspecies and distinct forms of trout, and many of them are at risk due to habitat degradation.

California’s official state freshwater fish is the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), and while this beautiful fish is perhaps the best known trout in California, it is far from the only trout living within the boundaries of the State. In addition to at least ten native species, subspecies and distinct types of trout that inhabit the waters of the Golden State, there a number of non-native trout now also residing in the State’s rivers and lakes. While some native trout are doing relatively well, others are on the verge of extinction due largely to habitat destruction and degradation and invasive species.

What are Trout?

Trout belong to the family Salmonidae, which include those fishes commonly referred to as salmon and trout. There are seven genera of salmonids; they are:

Brachymystax
Hucho
Oncorhynchus
Parahucho
Salmo
Salvelinus
Salvethymus

The fish generally referred to as trout come from the genera Salma (e.g., brown trout), Oncorhynchus (e.g., rainbow trout) and Salvelinus (e.g., brook trout). The fishes in the genus Salvelinus are actually chars, although some, like the brook trout and lake trout, are frequently referred to as trout.

All trout prefer cool to cold water that is exceptionally clean. They can be found in both streams and lakes, and some are anadromous, meaning that they live most of their lives in the ocean but move into freshwater streams to spawn.

Native Trout in California

There are many species, subspecies and distinct types of trout indiginous to California, making California one of the states with the most native trout diversity.

Unfortunately, several species, including the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) and the Paiute cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii seleniris), are at serious risk of extinction. In addition, several types of native rainbow trout are also at risk. They are:

Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ssp.)
Goose Lake Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ssp.)
McCloud River Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ssp.)
Warner Lake Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ssp.)

In addition to these rainbow trout considered to be at risk, one subspecies of cutthroat trout—the Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi)—is also considered at risk. At least one native California trout species—the California bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus)—is considered to be extinct in state waters.

Several subspecies of native California trout are considered to have stable populations at present. They are the Little Kern River golden trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss whitei) and the Kern River rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss gilberti). The coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkia) is also considered stable, although it is officially listed as a State Species of Special Concern. The coastal rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus) is also considered stable, although the steelhead—anadromous coastal rainbows—are in serious trouble.

California Heritage Trout Program

The California Department of Fish and Game and the Fish and Game Commission designate native California trout species and subspecies Heritage Trout. These are all trout that were found in California state waters before human intervention. Designated Heritage Trout may be found in designated Heritage Waters.

Three subspecies of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) and eight types of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have been officially designated Heritage Trout. They are:

Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Paiute Cutthroat Trout
Coastal Rainbow Trout
Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout
McCloud River Redband Trout
Goose Lake Redband Trout
Warner Lakes Redband Trout
Kern River Rainbow Trout
California Golden Trout
Little Kern Golden Trout

The copyright of the article Native California Trout Species and Subspecies in Freshwater Fish is owned by Ret Talbot. Permission to republish Native California Trout Species and Subspecies in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

California Coastal Cutthroat Trout