Home > Capitol Museum > Museum Exhibits > Current > State Symbols > Fish

Arizona State Fish: Arizona Trout (Salmo apache)

Historically, Arizona trout occupied headwaters of the Salt, San Francisco and Little Colorado rivers. Currently there are natural populations in five streams in the White Mountains. There are additional introduced populations in other streams of the White Mountain area, Pinaleno Mountains and Kaibab Plateau.

The Arizona trout originally got its scientific name Salmo apache from the salmo, which is Latin for "leaper," and Apache for the Indian reservation where it was first identified. The Arizona trout has yellowish background coloration with dark spots uniformly over the body. The back of the fish is golden to olive brown. The fins are white or yellow tipped and there is a slash of orange to yellow on the lower jaw.

The Arizona trout is not a large fish, and thus is well suited for life in small streams. They seem to prefer small-sized streams at high elevations. The fish rely primarily on pool development, undercut banks and overhanging riparian vegetation for cover. Feeding habits of the Arizona trout seem to vary according to size. Flies are the major food for sub-adult fish, while adults feed primarily on caddis flies. Numerous land insects are also taken by all sizes of this fish.

Currently, Arizona trout range is increasing due to joint conservation efforts by state and federal agencies and private organizations. The Arizona trout is listed as a Federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The primary cause for listing is that it readily interbreeds with other members of the genus Salmo. This includes the several species of introduced trout (e.g. rainbow) that now occur commonly in Arizona. To assure generic purity, all other trout must be removed from a location.

The Arizona trout is considered by many to be an endangered species success story. Its future today is much brighter then it was even ten years ago.

Photo and information provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Education Branch