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BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary


Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii
Cutthroat Trout, clarkii subspecies

 
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Richardson, 1836
English Name: Cutthroat Trout, clarkii subspecies
 
Classification / Taxonomy
Scientific Name - 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.
Classification Level: Subspecies
Taxonomy Comments: NatureServe (2026): "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)."
Species Group: Vertebrate Animal
Species Code: F-ONCL
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Craniata Actinopterygii Salmoniformes Salmonidae
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G4 (Nov 1997)
Provincial Status: S3S4 (Jan 2004)
BC List: Blue
Provincial FRPA list:   
Provincial Wildlife Act:
COSEWIC Status:
SARA Schedule:
General Status Canada:
   
Ecology & Life History
General Description:
Global Reproduction Comments: 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).
Global Ecology Comments: As evidenced by indicative scarring, predation at sea may be a significant cause of natural mortality (see Behnke 1992).
Migration Characteristics:
(Global / Provincial)		 
    Nonmigrant:
    Local Migrant:
    Distant Migrant:
    Within Borders Migrant: 		Y / N
Y / N
Y / N
na / N
Global Migration Comments: Migratory and nonmigratory stocks occur throughout the range (Behnke 1992). In northern California, begins to migrate up streams in September-October, following the first heavy rains; migrates up to 70-90 km inland in the Smith River, not so far in streams to the south (Moyle et al. 1989).
Habitats:
(Type / Subtype / Dependence)
Global Habitat Comments: 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).
Food Habits: Invertivore: Adult, Immature
Piscivore: Adult, Immature
Global Food Habits Comments: Adults eat insects, crustaceans, and other fishes. Young feed mostly on aquatic and drift insects, microcrustaceans, and occasionally smaller fishes. (Moyle et al. 1989).
Global Phenology:
Provincial Phenology:
(1st half of month/
2nd half of month)
Colonial Breeder: N
Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): 38/ /
Elevation (m) (min / max): Global: 
Provincial: 
   
 
Distribution
Endemic: N
Global Range Comment: 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.
 
Authors / Contributors
Global Information Author: Hammerson, G.
Last Updated: Feb 08, 1995
Provincial Information Author:
Last Updated:
   
References and Related Literature
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.
Behnke, R. J. 1992. Native trout of western North America. American Fisheries Society Monograph 6. xx + 275 pp.
Coastal Cutthroat Trout. 1999. B.C. Fish Facts. Conserv. Sect., Fish. Manage. Branch, B.C. Minist. Fish. 2pp.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stearley, R. F. 1992. Historical ecology of Salmoninae, with special reference to Oncorhynchus. Pages 622-658 in R.L. Mayden, editor. Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. xxvi + 969 pp.
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.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 1995. Species Summary: Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).