Brook Trout: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Rivers and Coasts · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. The brook trout is really a char. Its genus also holds the lake trout, bull trout, Dolly Varden and Arctic char.
2. Brook trout have many other names, such as speckled trout, brookie and squaretail.
3. Sea-run brook trout, or salters, can feed at sea for up to three months and turn silvery. Back in fresh water, they regain their colours in two weeks.
4. At spawning time, a brook trout's belly, especially a male's, often turns very red or orange.
5. A female can lay as many as 5,000 eggs in gravel. They develop there from winter until early spring.

The quiz

1. Which fish is in the same genus as the brook trout?

• The northern pike
• The lake trout (correct)
• The Atlantic salmon
• The bluegill

Its genus also holds the lake trout, bull trout, Dolly Varden and Arctic char.

2. Which is another name for the brook trout?

• Rainbow trout
• Brown trout
• Speckled trout (correct)
• Sea bass

Speckled trout is one of its other names.

3. How long may salters spend at sea?

• Up to three months (correct)
• Up to three days
• Up to three weeks
• Up to three years

Salters can feed at sea for as long as three months.

4. What colour can a male's belly turn at spawning?

• Bright blue
• Pure white
• Very red or orange (correct)
• Jet black

The belly often becomes very red or orange when spawning.

5. How many eggs can a female brook trout lay?

• Up to 50
• Up to 5,000 (correct)
• Up to 500
• Up to 50,000

A female can lay as many as 5,000 eggs in gravel.

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