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Photo credit: NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service |
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| Oncorhynchus mykiss, called Steelhead or rainbow trout exhibit perhaps the greatest diversity of life history patterns of any Pacific salmonid species (Barnhart 1986), including varying degrees of anadromy, differences in reproductive biology, and plasticity of life style types between generations. O. mykiss can be anadromous, or can be found as a permanent freshwater resident (and under some circumstances, apparently produce young of the opposite form). Anadromous O. mykiss are called Steelhead trout, and non-anadromous forms are usually called Rainbow trout. However, east of the Cascade Mountains in the Fraser and Columbia River basins, they are called redband trout. Steelhead trout are usually dark-olive in color, shading to silvery-white on the underside with a heavily speckled body and a pink to red stripe running along their sides. Steelhead trout that migrate to the ocean develop a much more pointed head, become more silvery in color, and typically grow much larger than the rainbow trout that remain in fresh water. |
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| Learn More... |
- Conservation Notes: This section includes information on threats to this species, its importance to humans and estuaries and how you can help to protect this species
- Profile: This section includes biological and life history information such as the species description, relatives, size/weight, diet, reproduction information, habitat and range.
- References: This section includes the list of articles and books cited in the information about the species.
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Did you know? Steeleheads are anadromous (migrate to the sea), but rainbows are catadromous (stay in freshwater their whole life). |
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Type: Fish |
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Diet: Young - zooplankton, Adults - aquatic and terrestrial insects, mollusks, crustaceans, fish eggs, minnows, and other small fish (including other trout) |
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Average lifespan in the wild: 11 years (maximum) |
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Size: 45 inches (maximum) |
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Weight: 55 lb (maximum) |
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Found in the following Estuarine Reserves: Padilla Bay (WA), South Slough (OR), San Francisco (CA), and Elkhorn Slough (CA) |
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Water quality factors needed for survival: Find details about water temperature, turbidity, water flow, salinity, dissolved oxygen at this link. |
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Threats: |
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- Logging
- Genetic introgression with hatchery fish
- Agriculture and development
- Excessive fishing
- Dams and other manmade impediments
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Click map for larger image |
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