2 replies to this topic

[Salmo]

We all know that some species of salmonid can hybridize, for example, tiger trout (Salmo trutta × Salvelinus fontinalis) or splake (Salvelinus namaycush × Salvelinus fontinalis). Is it possible that other species of salmonid could hybridize?

Recently I caught a fish which appears to be a cross between an landlocked Atlantic (Salmo salar) salmon and a brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Although I cannot find a record of these fishes hybridizing, the fact that brook trout can hybridize with other Salmon species indicates that this may not be such a farfetched hypothesis. The fish was caught in a brook with healthy populations of both brook trout and landlocked salmon, and an absence of brown trout as far as I know. At first glance it may look like a tiger trout but many of its features appear salmon-like, notable elongated body, forked tail, lack of dark spots below the lateral line, and blue iridescence.

I have attached two photos of the fish in question. I am also including photo of a brook trout caught in the same brook as the hybrid and a photo of a landlocked salmon par caught in a nearby river.

Hybrid



Brook trout


Landlocked Atlantic Salmon

[ShadetreeIchthyologist]

Looks like a tiger trout if you ask me.

[Salmo]

I agree that it does look like a tiger, but assuming that a salmonb x brook trout hybrid is possible, I think it would look something like a tiger trout. This fish appears to have more in common with a salmon than a brown trout. When this brook was surveyed in 2008, brook trout and salmon were sampled, however, no brown trout were found.