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Overview

The Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) is a subspecies of Cutthroat trout that once inhabited the Late Pleistocene-aged Lake Bonneville of Utah, eastern Nevada, and Southern Idaho (USA). Since the desiccation of Lake Bonneville into Great Salt Lake which is too salty for any kind of fish life, Bonneville Cutthroats have been isolated in smaller populations in the headwaters of mountain streams and in lakes of the Bonneville Drainage basin. The isolation has resulted in much phenotypic variation among populations. This species is one of 14 recognized subspecies of Cutthroat trout native to the western United States. This fish has sparsely scattered, very distinct round spots over its upper body. They are clothed in subdued colors of silver-gray to charcoal, the upper body having subtle hues of pink on the flanks during spawning. These fish, particularly the Bear Lake strain, often lack the bright crimson jaw slash that, at times, may be yellow. The difference between cutthroat trout and rainbow trout is that cutthroats have basibranchial (hyoid) teeth in their throat between the gill arches and behind the tongue.[1] They also typically have longer heads and jaws than the rainbow and often can be distinguished from the rainbow by their larger spots. Bonneville cutthroat trout primarily eat insects, but large individuals also eat other fish. They spawn near the mouths of streams over gravel substrate in the springtime, having an incubation period of 24 to 25 days.

Scientific Name

Oncorhynchus clarkii utah
Common Name
Bonneville cutthroat trout
FWS Category
Fishes
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

16 Items

Listing

Correction

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Notice

Listing

Notice

Listing

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Listing

Jan 20, 1984

Jan 20, 1984 Listing (Warranted But Precluded)
Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 49 FR 2485-2488
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 1

Correction

Feb 16, 1984

Feb 16, 1984 Correction
(Correction) Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 49 FR 5…
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 2

Listing

May 10, 1985

May 10, 1985 Listing (Warranted But Precluded: Resubmitted)
Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 50 FR 19761-19763
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 3

Listing

Jan 9, 1986

Jan 9, 1986 Listing (Warranted But Precluded: Resubmitted)
Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 51 FR 996-999
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 4

Listing

Jun 30, 1987

Jun 30, 1987 Listing (Warranted But Precluded: Resubmitted)
Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 52 FR 24312-24314
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 5

Listing

Jul 7, 1988

Jul 7, 1988 Listing (Warranted But Precluded: Resubmitted)
Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress of Listing Actions; 53 FR 25511-25515
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 6

Listing

Dec 29, 1988

Dec 29, 1988 Listing (Warranted But Precluded: Resubmitted)
Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 53 FR 52746-52749
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 7

Listing

Apr 25, 1990

Apr 25, 1990 Listing (Warranted But Precluded: Resubmitted)
ETWP; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions and Findings on Recycled Petitions; 55 FR 1…
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 8

Listing

Nov 21, 1991

Nov 21, 1991 Listing (Warranted But Precluded: Resubmitted)
ETWP; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions and Findings on Recycled Petitions; 56 FR 58…
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 9

Listing

Nov 21, 1991

Nov 21, 1991 Listing
ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species; 56 FR 58804 58836
  • Publication type: CNOR
Item 10

Listing

Nov 15, 1994

Nov 15, 1994 Listing
ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species.
  • Publication type: CNOR
Item 11

Listing

Dec 8, 1998

Dec 8, 1998 Listing (Substantial)
90-Day Finding for a Petition to List the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout as Threatened
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 12

Notice

Jan 13, 1999

Jan 13, 1999 Notice
Reopening of Comment Period on the 90-Day Finding for a Petition To List the Bonneville Cutthroat Tr…
  • Publication type: Comment Period Reopening
Item 13

Listing

Oct 9, 2001

Oct 9, 2001 Listing (Not Warranted)
ETWP: 12-Month Finding for a Petition To List the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout as Threatened Throughou…
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 14

Notice

Feb 7, 2008

Feb 7, 2008 Notice
12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) as…
  • Publication type: Comment Period Reopening
Item 15

Listing

Sep 9, 2008

Sep 9, 2008 Listing
12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout as Threatened or Endangered
  • Publication type: Candidate Removal
Item 16