Types of Trout and Trout Identification

There are many different types and breeds of trout. Some are born and live in freshwater rivers, lakes, and creeks, while others dwell in the sea and swim to the rivers only to spawn before returning to the salty waters. You can also find sea-dwelling trout that are born and live in the ocean. Most have distinct markings, mainly for camouflage, and it is overwhelming to characterize a specific breed. However, the majority of trout you’ll catch or find in a fish market have unique names and distinguishable characteristics. Trout can also be famed in a pond or hatchery. Here’s an overview of the popular types of trout.

In this article you will learn Types of Trout and Trout Identification.

What is Trout?

Trout belongs to the family Salmonidae and is closely related to salmon, char, and whitefish. There are many breeds, but most are classified as freshwater trout, saltwater trout, and anadromous trout. Freshwater trout are found in lakes and rivers, while sea trout live in the ocean. On the other hand, anadromous trout are born in rivers and lakes but swim to the sea when they are about one to three years old, only returning to the rivers to spawn. They are adapted to living in both freshwater and saltwater conditions. Trout are integral to the aquatic ecosystem feasting mainly on insects, invertebrates, and small amphibians and mammals. In turn, they provide food for other fish species, birds of prey, bears, raccoons, and other mammals. They are also prized for their food and sports value.

How to Identify Trout

Although there are many unique trout breeds, most are easy to differentiate from other fish species, like bass, salmon, char, perch, etc. The known varieties live in varying environments and have varied colours and patterns. Sea trout are known for their vivid pink flesh and slightly darker colour, while rainbow trout have more colourful patterns and markings. On the other hand, steelheads have rounded head and a silvery look. They are also anadromous. Rainbow trout and other freshwater dwellers have brighter colouration and more pronounced patterns. Nonetheless, trout often have spots on their body and a stripe or pattern running down horizontally towards the tail. More about trout identification is described below.

The Different Types of Trout

Trout occupy three of the seven genera within the Salmonidae family. These are Salmo, Salvelinus, and Oncorhynchus. Below are some of the most popular breeds under each genus.

1. Genus Salmo Trout

Also known as Atlantic trout, Salmo trout are popular and include the following breeds:

Brown Trout–Most brown trout are anadromous, meaning they dwell in both saltwater and freshwater. They come in a variety of coppery brown and orange colours with black spots on the sides and gills. Sea brown trout may be silvery with a dark back, while freshwater breeds have red and black markings with pale halos.
Marble Trout – As the name suggests, marble trout have a distinctive marble colour and pattern. They also grow to become larger than other species, and their colours will depend on the immediate surroundings. Some feature red spots merged with the marble colouration and mostly live in the Adriatic Sea basins and rivers.
Adriatic Trout – This trout species is also known as soft-mouth trout because of its small, fleshy lips. Adriatic trout are predominantly green with red and black dots but may characterize many colours. Most have slightly larger scales but lack the vertical stripes found in brown trout. The variety is endangered due to excessive damming, hybridization and overfishing.
Sevan Trout – The Sevan trout is native to Lake Ishkhan (Sevan) in Armenia and is one of the delicacies in the region. It was translocated successfully and manifests in various colours, ranging from pink to yellow, with various body markings. The colouration will depend on the nutrition and microclimate of its immediate surroundings.
Ohrid Trout – This is one of the rarest trout breeds native to the Ohrid Lake in Macedonia. It was translocated to Europe and the United States and is believed to be a member of the complex brown trout variety. Ohrid trout also depict unique breeding times and areas but are barely different from brown trout.

2. Genus OncorhynchusTrout

Thus genus features the Pacific trout, golden trout, rainbow trout and other breeds of the Rhabdofario subgenus. Here are five common types:

Rainbow Trout–This trout exhibits exquisite metallic colouration and have a pink lateral band on the sides. The gill cover is red and the body is filled with black spots that run vertically. Rainbow trout thrive in freshwater and have a more streamlined body with slightly forked and squatted caudal fins.
Apache Trout – Known for their golden yellow/brown back and belly, Apache trout are quite colourful. Some have dorsal spots surrounded with black speckles and pale halos, while others spot yellow markings below the lower jaws. Apache trout also have a black marking on the side of their pupils, so their eyes appear to have a black vertical stripe.
Golden Trout – As you can tell from the name, golden trout have gold colouration, particularly in the flanks. They also feature orange-to-red lateral stripes and dark oval marks on each side. The dorsal, anal and lateral fins may also have white edges. Golden trout are a subspecies of rainbow breeds and grow to over 12 inches long.
Cutthroat Trout – These breeds have a vivid red-to-orange colouration on their gill plates. They are named after their unique markings, which makes you think their throats have been cut out. There are more than 14 subspecies of cutthroat trout and they can grow up to 40 pounds and 30 inches.

3. Genus SalvelinusTrout

Salvelinusgenus is mainly comprised of char and the trout breeds fall within the Baione and Slavelinus subgenera. The popular breeds include:

Brook Trout–Brooks are stunning and easily distinguishable from other breeds. They are also known as speckled mud trout and are native to Canada and North America. Brook trout have a dark olive green or brown colour with marbled yellow patterns. They also feature bright red spots with pale blue halos and reddish fins.
Lake Trout – Freshwater lake trout are known by many names, including grey, mackinaw, lake charr, siscowet, touladi, and paper belly trout. They don’t have many colour variations and are grey, purple or green with light spots. They also have distinctive white edges on their fins and grow to become bigger than most breeds, up to 100 pounds and over 50 inches long.
Bull Trout – These species get their name from the unusually large head and mouth. Bull trout have olive bodies with reddish/orange dots and yellow markings. They also feature white edges on their fins and fine scales. Bull trout can grow to 30+ pounds and are similar to char.
Aurora Trout –Aurora trout are closely related to Brooks, except for their lack of yellow markings on the dorsal region, and blue halos with red spots. They get their name from beautiful colouration, which blends orange belly with magenta hues on the back. These species are native to Canadian lakes but have been successfully translocated to other habitats.

Summary

There are various other types of trout, including the Dolly Varden, Red Band, Biwa, Splake, Gila, and Greenback breeds. It is also possible that many rivers and sea trout species are yet to be discovered and named. All the varieties mentioned above can be famed in a hatchery and have tasty flavours. Each breed has unique characteristics that distinguish it from other trout. However, most have similarities that make it difficult to adequately distinguish one breed from the other, especially if they live in the same environment.