Lake Crescent cutthroat trout facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Crescent cutthroat trout |
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| Crescenti Cutthroat Trout | |
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O. c. clarkii (but see text)
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Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii f. crescenti |
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Oncorhynchus clarkii crescenti |
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The Crescenti cutthroat trout or Lake Crescent cutthroat trout is a special type of freshwater fish. It lives only in Lake Crescent in Washington. This fish is a local kind of the coastal cutthroat trout.
Scientists once thought it was a separate subspecies. But now, they see it as a unique local form. Even so, the cutthroat trout in Lake Crescent are quite distinct. They have the most gill rakers and vertebrae of any coastal cutthroat population. Gill rakers are like tiny combs fish use to filter food. Vertebrae are the bones that make up their spine.
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What Makes Them Special?
These fish are unique because they have more gill rakers and vertebrae than other coastal cutthroat trout. This makes them stand out from their relatives.
How They Became Isolated
It is believed that these cutthroat trout became isolated in Lake Crescent a long time ago. A large landslide blocked the eastern exit of the lake. This event trapped the fish inside, stopping them from mixing with other trout populations. This is how they became a distinct group.
Living with Other Fish
Before other types of trout were brought to the lake, these cutthroat trout lived alongside Beardslee trout. Beardslee trout are a type of rainbow trout also found in Lake Crescent. The cutthroat trout mostly used Barnes Creek to lay their eggs. The rainbow trout used the Lyre River for the same purpose.
In the early 1980s, a small group of cutthroat trout was found in the Lyre River. These fish laid their eggs further downstream than the native rainbow trout. Today, the cutthroat trout in Barnes Creek have mixed with introduced rainbow trout. This mixing created "cutbows," which are a mix of both types of fish. However, the Crescenti cutthroat trout in the Lyre River are still genetically pure. This means they have not mixed with other fish.
A Record-Breaking Fish
In 1961, a Crescenti cutthroat trout was caught that set a state record. It was 32 inches (81 cm) long and weighed 12 pounds (5.4 kg). This shows how large and impressive these fish can grow.
