Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss (Salmo gairdneri)

General Status Rank: 
Alien
ELCODE: 
AFCHA02090
Common Name: 
Rainbow Trout
Scientific Name: 
Oncorhynchus mykiss (Salmo gairdneri)
Naming References: 
B011
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Fish
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Actinopterygii
Order: 
Salmoniformes
Family: 
Salmonidae
References: 
B011
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

3-5 years (as late as 6 yrs in females)
References: 
B011

Longevity

3-8 years
References: 
B011

Economic/Human Considerations

Species used to stock lakes for sport fishing
References: 
H126
Habitat
Spawning: smaller tributaries of rivers, inlets, outlets streams of lakes; Adults: streams or lakes (anadromous form exists but not in the NWT - named Steelhead)
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Plains
References: 
H146
B172

Distribution

Rainbow Trout occur naturally in southern Alaska, and have been stocked in interior The NT distribution area for Rainbow Trout was amended to include the stocked populations found in Great Slave Lake and the surrounding area and extended south to the AB border to include the Slave River, Little Buffalo River, and Seven Mile Lake (Nelson and Paetz 1972; Falk et al. 1973; Falk and Low 1981; R.L. & L. Environmental Services Ltd. and Environmental Management Associates 1985; Stewart 1997, 1999; Little et al. 1998). The present status of the NT stocked populations is unknown, as is whether self-sustaining populations have developed and/or colonised any other locations. (B172)
References: 
B172

Number of Occurrences

Introduced about 15 times in Polar Lake (near Hay River) but ephemeral (H146); stocked at quite a number of locations (~17) with most recent effort in our data base being 1995 (H139_05); Introduced in lakes along Ingram Trail, near Ft Resolution, Ft Simth, Hay river. (B172)
Score: 
B
References: 
H146
H139_05
B172
R168

Historical Distribution

Introduced from elsewhere in NA, may be ephemeral

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
Population

Population Size

unknown, probably ephemeral
References: 
H126
Threats

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Score: 
-
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Alien
Status Rank Description: 
Introduced from elsewhere in North America; current extant status is unknown but I suspect once there they are likely to persist for a number of years and perhaps become naturalised locally (Reist 2005 and Low, George] The stocked individuals will live out their lives but DFO have never seen any evidence of reproduction. Doubt they will become naturalised in any of the stocked lakes and borrow pits. Sometimes you will see three years of eggs in various stages of being reabsorbed.
S Rank: 
SNA
Decision Process Description: 
Based from per. Comm. With DFO scientists - Added to list in 2005.; Reviewed by DFO in 2010,no change; Reviewed by DFO in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
January 28, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Economic Status

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Ecozones

  • Low. G. (1998) Fisheries Management biologist. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Pers. Comm. - H146 Return
  • Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. (2007) Distributions of freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland Northwest Territories, Canada.. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 - B172 Return

Longevity

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Naming

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Low. G. (1998) Fisheries Management biologist. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Pers. Comm. - H146 Return
  • Reist, J. (2005) File with changes 2005 NWT re-ranking of fish. e-mail to S Carriere on 25 July 2005 Electronic files and printout - H139_05 Return
  • Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. (2007) Distributions of freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland Northwest Territories, Canada.. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 - B172 Return
  • FALK, M. R. and G. LOW. 1981. (1981) Growth of stocked rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) in Polar Lake, Northwest Territories, 1977-1979.. Canadian Manuscript Report, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1578 : iv + 20p. - R168 Return

Population Size

Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Range Extent

  • Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. (2007) Distributions of freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland Northwest Territories, Canada.. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 - B172 Return

Taxonomy

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return