Vermont State Fish
Brook Trout (common name) Salvelinus fontinalis (scientific name) Overview The brook trout is a smaller and thinner member of the salmon family that is primarily confined to freshwater. It is a highly prized sport fish and considered one of the most flavorful of all edible fishes. The brook trout was adopted as the state cold-water fish of Vermont in 1978. It is the state fish of several states: Virginia (1993), Pennsylvania (1970), Michigan (1988), New Hampshire (1994), New Jersey (1991), New York (1975), and West Virginia (1973).  The coloration of the brook trout is a beautiful greenish brown with a marbled pattern all over, red and blue dots along its flank, and a reddish belly. Brook trout that live in the ocean or in large lakes are much bigger than their stream-dwelling cousins and are more blue or green on the back with silver cheeks, flanks, and belly. Coloration deepens during spawning, and breeding males also develop a hooked lower jaw. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 34 in (86 cm); average of 12 in (30 cm) Weight: Up to 14.5 lbs (6.6 kg); average of 1 lb (450 g) LIFESPAN Up to 5 years HABITAT Brook trout live in clear and cold spring-fed streams, lakes, and ponds. Range: Native to eastern North America from the Hudson Bay and Labrador Peninsula in the north, west to Minnesota and southeast to eastern Iowa and Georgia. In the Allegheny and Appalachian Mountains, brook trout are increasingly confined to higher elevations. Water type: Freshwater Water temp: 53-56°F (12-13°C) Conservation Status: Secure DIET Brook trout feed on larvae, insects (midges, mosquitoes, grasshoppers), worms, small fish, fish roe, and occasionally field mice and small snakes. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Late Summer or Autumn Mating behavior: Distinct and group pairing Egg laying: The female digs multiple depressions (redds) in the gravel of a small stream, where she lays 100–5,000 eggs for one or more males to fertilize with his milt. The female then buries the eggs in a small gravel mound, and they hatch in approximately 100 days. Adults do not guard the nest. USES Game fish, aquaculture OTHER NAMES Eastern brook trout, brookie, speckled trout, native trout, squaretail, speckled trout, brook char, Aurora trout TRIVIA Native brook trout started disappearing from North American streams as early as the late 1800s as streams became polluted, dammed, or too warm. Competition from smallmouth bass, perch, brown trout, and rainbow trout also accelerated their decline.
	Click to enlarge an image Detailed Drawing of Brook Trout Colorful Brook Trout Brook Trout Fingerling Brook Trout Surfacing for Insects Brook Trout Habitat CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes Family: Salmonidae Genus: Salvelinus Species: S. fontinalis
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Vermont State Fish
Walleye (common name) Sander vitreus (scientific name) Status: official Overview The walleye is a large freshwater perch (not a pike, as is commonly thought) with a long, olive-colored and gold-flecked body. There is a distinct black mark on its dorsal fin, and its tail has a white tip on the lower fork. It is a highly prized sport fish due to its size, fighting ability, and flavorful meat. Walleyes migrate to suitable spawning grounds, sometimes as far as 100 miles away. The walleye was designated the official state warm water fish of Vermont in 1978. It is also the state fish of Minnesota and South Dakota. Close-up PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 42 in (107 cm); average of 36 in (90 cm) Weight: Up to 22 lbs (10 kg); average of 11 lbs (5 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 26 years HABITAT Large, cool lakes and rivers with low to moderate clarity and sand or gravel bottoms. Range: Throughout Canada and in the United States from the Dakotas to Arkansas, east to North Carolina, and up the Atlantic Coast to Maine. The walleye has been widely introduced all over the U.S. Water type: Freshwater Water temp: 65-75°F (18-24°C) Elevation: Down to 89 feet (27 m) Conservation Status: Secure DIET Young walleye eat insect larvae and plankton. As they mature they switch to insects and then fish like yellow perch, ciscoes, and freshwater drum. They also eat insects, crayfish, snails, leeches, worms, mudpuppies, crayfish, frogs, snails, and even small mammals like mice. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: April to June Mating behavior: Several males will pursue females in the evening and circle them repeatedly with their fins erect. Egg laying: A female lays up to 500,000 eggs. The eggs adhere to rocky lake bottoms in relatively shallow water, where they are dusted by the male’s milt to become fertilized. The "fry" hatch after 20 days. Adults do not protect or care for the eggs or fry. USES Game fish, commercial fish OTHER NAMES Walleyed pike, jackfish, doré, dory, blue walleye, yellow walleye TRIVIA The name walleye refers to the large, milky pupils of the fish that reflect light back (like cat’s eyes) due to crystalline matter in the retina. These pupils allow the fish to see in dark, murky waters. People in Minnesota eat more walleye than residents of any other state.
	Click to enlarge an image Detailed Drawing of Walleye Walleye in Natural Habitat View of Walleye Showing Size Juvenile Walleye CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Percidae Genus: Sander Species: S. vitreus
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press