A small native trout of the Gila headwaters with golden-yellow sides and rich black spots. Brought back from the edge of extinction through tribal, state, and federal partnerships.

Native status: Native; federally threatened

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 20–30 cm
Weight150–500 g
LifespanWild 4–7 years
OrderSalmoniformes
FamilySalmonidae

§ Encyclopedia

The Gila trout is a species of salmonid, related to the rainbow trout, native to the southwestern United States. Prior to 2006 the Gila trout was federally listed as endangered. In July 2006, after much work by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and Arizona Game and Fish Department, the United States Forest Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Gila trout was down-listed to threatened, with a special provision called a "4d rule" that will allow limited sport fishing – for the first time in nearly half a century. By the time the Gila trout was closed to fishing in the 1950s, its numbers and range were so depleted and so reduced this copper-colored trout simply wasn't very accessible to anglers. As of 2011 there is fishing in both states for this fish.

Source: Wikipedia — Gila trout Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Golden-yellow trout with profuse small dark spots; brilliant pink-orange throat slash; small adipose fin.

Similar species. Apache Trout (related; different range). Rio Grande Cutthroat (different markings). Rainbow Trout (different range; hybridizes with Gila).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Aquatic insects, terrestrial insects falling onto water.

Behavior. Federally threatened endemic to Gila River headwaters in New Mexico and Arizona. Population was as low as a few hundred individuals; intensive recovery through habitat restoration, hatchery support, and predator/competitor (rainbow trout) removal has allowed limited recreational fishing to resume in some waters.

§ Range

Endemic to upper Gila River drainage (Arizona, New Mexico)

§ Habitat

Cold mountain streams

§ Threats

Hybridization with introduced rainbows, wildfire impacts (Whitewater-Baldy Fire devastated populations), drought.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the gila trout is currently classified as Endangered.

§ What helps

Don't release rainbows in Gila country. Practice strict catch-and-release. Support wildfire recovery.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USFWS Gila Trout Recovery
  • New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • IUCN Red List 2008