Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery

Spotlight: Cutthroat Trout

Spotlight: Identifiable Features of a Cutthroat Trout

Diagram - Identifiable Features of a Wild Cutthroat Trout

Compare these features against another trout salmonid: a Steelhead (anadromous Rainbow trout):

CUTTHROAT

  • Spots in dorsal
  • Not more than 5 parr marks on dorsal ridge ahead of dorsal fin
  • Tail usually black spotted
  • Teeth on base of tongue
  • 8-12 rays
  • Red or yellow mark on throat
  • Maxillary extends past rear margin of eye

STEELHEAD – RAINBOW

  • No teeth on base of tongue
  • Few or no spots in tail
  • 8-12 rays
  • No red or yellow mark on throat
  • Maxillary does not extend past rear margin of eye
  • 5-10 parr marks on dorsal ridge ahead of dorsal fin
  • Spots in dorsal