12-03-2007, 11:20 PM
The coloration of the Male and the reduction of spots over the front of the back indicates Greenback Cutthroat trout or a Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. Many green backs retain par marks like the female is showing. Pictures of brightly colored males typically are listed as Greenbacks Cutthroat. But I have seen pictures of male Colorado river cutthtroat trout with the bright coloration that were caught on the Western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The only way to positively distinguish Greenback cutthroat trout from Colorado River Cutthroat trout is by genetics. But what is throwing me off is that the spots are typically a lot larger on the tail of greenbacks.
The Greenback cutthroat trout were brought back from extinction in the 50's. Well, they thought they were extinct until Dr. Binke heard some old old stories of unusual trout high in the mountains off the Arkansas River Drainage. In the early fifties he located two very small populations of them in a couple of High mountain creeks. They were quickly put on the indangered species list. Recovery efforts were accelerated to where the Greenbacks were take off the indangered species list. But remains on the threatened species list. Until this last year the Greenback Cutthroat and the Bald eagles were the only animals ever delisted from the Endangered species list.
The Apache Trout in New Mexico (or is it the Gila Trout - I forget which one is in Arizona and which one is in New Mexico)
A resently completed research indicates that many of the greenback cutthroat populations on the Front range of the Rockies may actually be Colorado River Cutthroat but further investigation is required. At least that is what I have deduced from the few news blurbs I have read.
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The Greenback cutthroat trout were brought back from extinction in the 50's. Well, they thought they were extinct until Dr. Binke heard some old old stories of unusual trout high in the mountains off the Arkansas River Drainage. In the early fifties he located two very small populations of them in a couple of High mountain creeks. They were quickly put on the indangered species list. Recovery efforts were accelerated to where the Greenbacks were take off the indangered species list. But remains on the threatened species list. Until this last year the Greenback Cutthroat and the Bald eagles were the only animals ever delisted from the Endangered species list.
The Apache Trout in New Mexico (or is it the Gila Trout - I forget which one is in Arizona and which one is in New Mexico)
A resently completed research indicates that many of the greenback cutthroat populations on the Front range of the Rockies may actually be Colorado River Cutthroat but further investigation is required. At least that is what I have deduced from the few news blurbs I have read.
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