PAIUTE CUTTHROAT TROUT Salmo clarki seleniris (Snyder. 1933) 



Order: SALMONIFORMES Family: SALMONIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : Highly colored, typically with orange-red dash on 

 dentary, few spots, ventral area clear white. Except for ventral surface, coloration 

 somewhat similar to golden trout. 



Present distribution : Very limited- -Silver King Creek and its tributaries, Alpine 

 County, Cottonwood Creek, and Inyo County, California; Delaney Creek, Yosemite 

 National Park, California. 



Former distribution : Alpine County, California, east of the Sierra Divide, in high 

 mountains . 



Status : Greatly depleted and in peril . 



Estimated numbers : 500 adults. 



Fecundity : Not known. 



Reasons for decline : Overfishing, hybridization with rainbow trout, and limited range. 



Protective measures already taken : A few successful transplants have been made by 

 California Department of Fish and Game; hybrids were removed from Silver King Creek in 

 1965 and pure stock were introduced. Silver King Creek, Delaney Creek, and North Fork 

 of Cottonwood Creek closed to angling . 



Measures proposed : A survey of the current status of the species and the development 

 of a plan for preservation, including establishment of pure populations. 



Number in captivity : None . 



Culture potential in captivity : No data . 



Remarks : Data submitted by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and 

 Dr. Robert J. Behnke , Colorado Cooperative Fishery Unit, Bureau of Sport Fisheries 

 and Wildlife . 



References : 



Anonymous. 1965. Preserving the Paiute. Outdoor California, Vol. 26, No. 3, 



p. 3-4. 

 Fish, L. 1972. Status of certain depleted inland fishes. California Department of 



Fish and Game, Inland Fish . Admin. Dept., No. 72-1: 13 p. 

 Snyder, J. O. 1934. A new California trout. Calif. Fish and Game 20(2): 105-112. 

 Wales, J. H. 1957. Trout of California . Department of Fish and Game, 



Sacramento, California, 56 p. 



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