Rainbow trout!Rainbow trout!

Kingdom: Kingdom: AnimaliaAnimalia

Phylum: Phylum: ChordataChordata

Subphylum: Subphylum: VertebrataVertebrata

Class: Class: ActinopterygiiActinopterygii

Order: Order: SalmoniformesSalmoniformes

Family: Family: SalmonidaeSalmonidae

Genus: Genus: OncorhynchusOncorhynchus

Species: Species: Oncorhynchus Oncorhynchus mykissmykiss

Geographic Range.Geographic Range. They are only native to the Pacific They are only native to the Pacific

Coast of North America, extending Coast of North America, extending from Alaska down to the border from Alaska down to the border between California and Mexico. between California and Mexico. However, they have been introduced However, they have been introduced throughout the United States. and in throughout the United States. and in every continent except for Antarctica every continent except for Antarctica for game fishing purposes.for game fishing purposes.

There are two forms: freshwater There are two forms: freshwater resident and anadromous. The resident and anadromous. The resident form is commonly called resident form is commonly called rainbow trout while the anadromous rainbow trout while the anadromous

form is called steelhead.form is called steelhead.

Places they live Places they live

The dark blue is where The dark blue is where the rainbow trout are the rainbow trout are most seen. most seen.

The light blue is where The light blue is where they are seen a lot but they are seen a lot but not nativenot native

The aqua blue is where The aqua blue is where they are not seen as they are not seen as much and not native.much and not native.

HabitatHabitat Freshwater, brackish, or marine waters of Freshwater, brackish, or marine waters of

temperate zones. The anadromous form, temperate zones. The anadromous form, called steelhead, spawn and complete their called steelhead, spawn and complete their early development in freshwater mountain early development in freshwater mountain streams, then migrate to spend their adult streams, then migrate to spend their adult life in the ocean. In freshwater, they prefer life in the ocean. In freshwater, they prefer cool water but have been known to tolerate cool water but have been known to tolerate water temperatures up to 24°C native water temperatures up to 24°C native climates have water temperatures around climates have water temperatures around 12°C in the summer. Productive streams 12°C in the summer. Productive streams have a good mixture of riffles and pools have a good mixture of riffles and pools and overhanging vegetation for shade. and overhanging vegetation for shade. Most importantly, they require gravel beds Most importantly, they require gravel beds to lay their eggs, and therefore, are to lay their eggs, and therefore, are sensitive to sedimentation and channel sensitive to sedimentation and channel scouring. Juvenile trout prefer protective scouring. Juvenile trout prefer protective cover and low velocity water and have cover and low velocity water and have been known to be swept away and killed in been known to be swept away and killed in water that is too fast. water that is too fast.

Physical DescriptionPhysical Description Physical description changes with Physical description changes with

sex, age, and habitat. In general, sex, age, and habitat. In general, they are streamlined, with 8 to 12 they are streamlined, with 8 to 12 spines in the anal fin and lack spines in the anal fin and lack teeth at the base of the tongue teeth at the base of the tongue unlike their close relatives, unlike their close relatives, Oncorhynchus clarkii. The Oncorhynchus clarkii. The undersides tend to be silvery with undersides tend to be silvery with a pinkish red stripe along the a pinkish red stripe along the upper-middle part of the body, upper-middle part of the body, though this stripe can vary from though this stripe can vary from dark to light. Resident rainbows dark to light. Resident rainbows and spawning steelhead tend to be and spawning steelhead tend to be lighter with more pronounced lighter with more pronounced pink stripes, while ocean-going pink stripes, while ocean-going steelhead are darker and silvery to steelhead are darker and silvery to blend into their ocean blend into their ocean environment. environment.

Physical description Physical description

Reproduction Reproduction Female fish find suitable nest sites while Female fish find suitable nest sites while

their male mate guards the site from other their male mate guards the site from other interested males and predators. The female interested males and predators. The female digs the nest (called a redd) with her anal digs the nest (called a redd) with her anal fin and then descends upon it to position fin and then descends upon it to position her vent and anal fin into the deepest part her vent and anal fin into the deepest part of the red. The male joins her in a parallel of the red. The male joins her in a parallel position so that their vents are opposite position so that their vents are opposite each other. The male and female open each other. The male and female open their mouths, arch their backs, and deposit their mouths, arch their backs, and deposit the eggs and milt (fish sperm) at the same the eggs and milt (fish sperm) at the same time. The eggs are enveloped in a cloud of time. The eggs are enveloped in a cloud of milt and are fertilized. Only a few seconds milt and are fertilized. Only a few seconds elapse from the time the female drops into elapse from the time the female drops into the redd and fertilization occurs. The the redd and fertilization occurs. The female then covers the nest with gravel female then covers the nest with gravel and repeats the process again a few times and repeats the process again a few times until she has deposited all of her eggs. until she has deposited all of her eggs.

Predators Predators kingfishers (kingfishers (CeryleCeryle) ) grizzly bears (grizzly bears (UrsusUrsus arctosarctos) ) American black bears (American black bears (UrsusUrsus americanusamericanus) ) river otters (river otters (LontraLontra canadensiscanadensis) ) mink (mink (NeovisonNeovison visonvison and and MustelaMustela lutreolalutreola) ) raccoons (raccoons (ProcyonProcyon lotorlotor) ) sea lampreys (sea lampreys (PetromyzonPetromyzon marinusmarinus) ) mergansers (mergansers (MergusMergus merganser merganser) ) great blue herons (great blue herons (ArdeaArdea herodiasherodias) ) other trout species (Salmonidae) other trout species (Salmonidae) humans (humans (Homo sapienHomo sapien) )

Food habits Food habits

Rainbow trout and steelhead are insectivorous Rainbow trout and steelhead are insectivorous and piscivorous. Resident rainbow trout tend and piscivorous. Resident rainbow trout tend to eat more fish than steelhead. Both species to eat more fish than steelhead. Both species primarily feed on invertebrate larvae drifting primarily feed on invertebrate larvae drifting in mid-water to conserve energy that would be in mid-water to conserve energy that would be expended if they were foraging for food in the expended if they were foraging for food in the substrate. Young rainbow trout and steelhead substrate. Young rainbow trout and steelhead eat insect larvae, crustaceans, other aquatic eat insect larvae, crustaceans, other aquatic invertebrates, and algae. invertebrates, and algae.

In the newsIn the news Jumbo rainbow trout are being planted in lakes in Jefferson, Mason and Jumbo rainbow trout are being planted in lakes in Jefferson, Mason and

Kitsap counties to boost fishing opportunities this fall and winter. Kitsap counties to boost fishing opportunities this fall and winter. Crews from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Trout Lodge are Crews from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Trout Lodge are

planting 25,400 rainbow trout – each weighing nearly one pound – into planting 25,400 rainbow trout – each weighing nearly one pound – into Gibbs, Leland, and Teal lakes in Jefferson County; Island, Kokanee, Lost, Gibbs, Leland, and Teal lakes in Jefferson County; Island, Kokanee, Lost, Nahwatzel, Spencer and Trails End lakes in Mason County; and Island and Nahwatzel, Spencer and Trails End lakes in Mason County; and Island and Kitsap lakes in Kitsap County. Kitsap lakes in Kitsap County.

Crews were expected to finish stocking the lakes last week, said Mark Crews were expected to finish stocking the lakes last week, said Mark Downen, district fish biologist. The trout were raised at the department’s Downen, district fish biologist. The trout were raised at the department’s Eells Springs Hatchery near Shelton, Satsop Springs Hatchery near Elma Eells Springs Hatchery near Shelton, Satsop Springs Hatchery near Elma and Trout Lodge hatcheries near Tumwater. and Trout Lodge hatcheries near Tumwater.

Read more: Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/23/1876328/jumbo-rainbow-http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/23/1876328/jumbo-rainbow-trout-planted-in.html#ixzz1bjWnQmiwtrout-planted-in.html#ixzz1bjWnQmiw

Fun factsFun facts

Rainbow trout individuals live for 6 to 8 years Rainbow trout individuals live for 6 to 8 years in the wild, possibly up to 11 years. in the wild, possibly up to 11 years.

Works consultedWorks consulted

http://www.laketrout.org/rainbowtrout/1wr.jpghttp://www.laketrout.org/rainbowtrout/1wr.jpg http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall01%20http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall01%20

projects/rainbow%20trout.htmprojects/rainbow%20trout.htm http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/

accounts/information/accounts/information/Oncorhynchus_mykiss.htmlOncorhynchus_mykiss.html

http://www.thenewstribune.com/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/23/1876328/jumbo-rainbow-trout-2011/10/23/1876328/jumbo-rainbow-trout-planted-in.htmlplanted-in.html