why do some adult brook trout appear different than others?
06.December, 2009
i have notice that the color and shape of many adult male brook trout varies signifigantly, from different populations, why is this?
Trout and Char are known for changing colors with the seasons, water clarity, water depth, spawning, etc. Also male fish look significantly different than female fish in much the same way that hen pheasants look different than rooster pheasants. Surprisingly, even damage to the eyesight of a fish can determine what coloration or pattern it takes on. I once caught a rainbow trout in a Colorado stream that was almost completely black except for a creamy white belly speckled with black edges. On closer examination of that totally rare fish, we discovered it was completely blind. It is surprising that a blind fish could survive as long as it did to grow to be 14" long without getting eaten by a predator. I have seen brook trout that showed almost no colors or patterns at all while others have sported the beautiful vermiculation (tiger stripes or worm tracks) over the back and included bright blue halo’s with red or pink spots. The spawning males get even more intensely colored and patterned, and also develop a kype (hooked jaw) that distinguishes them even more from the less spectacular females. For the record, the brookies are actually Char as opposed to trout and are most closely related to dolly varden and arctic char. What ever you care to call them, I call them my favorite fish to see and catch in trout waters.
07.December, 2009 um 4:51 am
like with any animal or even humans environment effects them…..
References :
07.December, 2009 um 5:09 am
Trout and Char are known for changing colors with the seasons, water clarity, water depth, spawning, etc. Also male fish look significantly different than female fish in much the same way that hen pheasants look different than rooster pheasants. Surprisingly, even damage to the eyesight of a fish can determine what coloration or pattern it takes on. I once caught a rainbow trout in a Colorado stream that was almost completely black except for a creamy white belly speckled with black edges. On closer examination of that totally rare fish, we discovered it was completely blind. It is surprising that a blind fish could survive as long as it did to grow to be 14" long without getting eaten by a predator. I have seen brook trout that showed almost no colors or patterns at all while others have sported the beautiful vermiculation (tiger stripes or worm tracks) over the back and included bright blue halo’s with red or pink spots. The spawning males get even more intensely colored and patterned, and also develop a kype (hooked jaw) that distinguishes them even more from the less spectacular females. For the record, the brookies are actually Char as opposed to trout and are most closely related to dolly varden and arctic char. What ever you care to call them, I call them my favorite fish to see and catch in trout waters.
References :