Brook Trout
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Actinopterygii
UNCOMMON

Stats

Lifespan
5-7 yrs
Size
Medium
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Crepuscular
Social
School
Biome
Freshwater stream
Range
Eastern North America
Movement
Swimming
Breeding
Egg-laying
Defense
Camouflage
Status
Uncommon

About

The brook trout is a brilliantly colored freshwater char native to eastern North America, recognized by its olive-green back patterned with worm-like vermiculations and vivid red spots ringed in blue along its sides. Despite being called a trout, it belongs to the char genus Salvelinus and is so sensitive to water temperature and pollution that its presence signals a cold, clean stream.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    hatchling fry
    A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
  2. 2.
    juvenile
    A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
  3. 3.
    adult
    Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Salmoniformes
Family
Salmonidae
Genus
Salvelinus
Species
Salvelinus fontinalis