LITTLE KERN GOLDEN TROUT Salmo aquabonita gilberti (Jordan, 1894) 



Order: SALMONIFORMES Family: SALMONIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : Yellow-golden sides, often orange ventral region; 

 dorsal, anal and pelvic fins tipped with white or orange; scales in lateral series, 

 140-175, above lateral line 32-38; pyloric caeca, 30-45; vertebrae 60-63; gillrakers 

 19-22. 



Present distribution : Little Kern River and tributaries above falls near confluence 



with Doda Springs Creek and upper Coyote Creek, tributary to main Kern River, Sequoia 



National Forest, California. 



Former distribution : All of the originally inhabitated trout waters of the Kern River 

 basin, excluding the South Fork of the Kern. 



Status : Scarce . 



Estimated numbers : Perhaps a few thousand. 



Fecundity : Unknown . 



Reasons for decline : Hybridization with hatchery rainbow trout. 



Protective measures already taken : Introductions ceased in Little Kern basin; 

 Colorado Cooperative Fishery Unit Project funded by National Park Service for 

 study of the present trout populations of upper Kern basin — to be completed spring, 1969. 



Measures proposed : Introductions into barren or reclaimed waters . 



Number in captivity : None . 



Breeding potential in captivity : Unknown . 



Remarks : Data submitted by Dr. Robert J. Behnke, Colorado Cooperative Fishery Unit, 

 Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. 



Reference : 



Behnke, R. J. 1973. (Personal communications). 



Schreck, C. B. 1969. Trouts of the upper Kern River Basin, California. 



Thesis, M.S., Colorado State University. 

 and R.J. Behnke. 1971. Trouts of the Upper Kern River Basin, 



California with reference to systematics and evolution of Western North American 



Salmo . J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 28:987-998. 



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