Arizona State Fish
Apache Trout (common name) Oncorhynchus gilae apache (scientific name) Overview This native trout from the White Mountains of Arizona is gold in color with a dark olive head and back, dark spots all over, and a black stripe across the eyes. The Apache trout lives in clear, cold streams, lakes, and marshes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the White Mountain Apache Tribe have been working to increase the population of the Apache trout since the 1940s, and although it remains endangered, their efforts have increased the species’ numbers. The Apache trout was adopted as the state fish of Arizona in 1986. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Average 10 inches; up to 24 inches (25 cm–61 cm) Weight: Average 1 pound; up to 6 pounds (450 g–2.7 kg) LIFESPAN Unknown HABITAT Can survive up to 5,900 feet (1800 m) Range: Apache trout inhabit clear lakes and forested streams in the White Mountain area in east-central Arizona. Stocked Apache trout are also present in the Pinaleño Mountains in southeastern Arizona and in the Black River and the Little Colorado River. Water type: Freshwater Water temp: 55-70°F (13-21°C) Conservation Status: Critically Endangered DIET The Apache trout eats flies, fly larvae (particularly the Caddis fly), mosquitoes, aquatic insects, worms, small fish, and other small aquatic organisms. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: March to Mid-June Mating behavior: Distinct pairing Egg laying: The female constructs a nest-like depression called a redd in loose gravel and lays 70–600 eggs. The males then swim by and fertilize them. The eggs hatch after 30 days, and it takes up to three years for the fish to fully mature. USES Game fish OTHER NAMES Native trout, Arizona trout, Gila trout, cut-throat trout TRIVIA The scientific name of the Apache trout, Oncorhynchus gilae apache, was given for the Native American territory in which it was first identified and the Gila River in Arizona.  After the Endangered Species Act of 1969 was passed, this trout became one of the first species to be protected under it.
	Click to enlarge an image Apache Trout Jumbo Arizona Trout Collecting Eggs from Arizona Trout CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Sub-Class: Osteichthyes Order: Salmoniformes Family: Salmonidae Genus: Oncorhynchus Species: O. gilae Subspecies: O. g. apache
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press