Cutthroat Trout - Origin of The Name

Origin of The Name

The common name "cutthroat" refers to the distinctive red coloration on the underside of the lower jaw.

Cutthoat trout were given the species name clarki in honor of William Clark, who co-led the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804–1806. One of Lewis and Clark’s missions was to describe the flora and fauna encountered during the expedition. The type specimen of O. clarki was described by naturalist John Richardson from a tributary of the lower Columbia River, identified as the "Katpootl", which was perhaps the Lewis River as there was a Multnomah village of similar name at the confluence. This type specimen was most likely the coastal cutthroat subspecies.

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