Westslope cutthroat trout

The Westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus lewisi) is a freshwater salmonid in the cutthroat trout complex. The nominate subspecies, also known as the Missouri River cutthroat trout, is Oncorhynchus lewisi lewisi. The Westslope cutthroat trout is the Montana state fish. The Westslope cutthroat trout is a species of concern in Montana and British Columbia ranges and is considered threatened in its native range in Alberta.

Taxonomy

The scientific name of the Westslope cutthroat trout is Oncorhynchus lewisi, as it was first described in the journals of explorer William Clark from specimens obtained during the Lewis and Clark Expedition from the Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana. Cutthroat trout were given the name Salmo clarki in honor of William Clark, who co-led the expedition of 1804–1806. One of Lewis and Clark's missions was to describe the flora and fauna encountered during the expedition. The type specimen of S. clarki was described by naturalist John Richardson in 1836 from a tributary of the lower Columbia River, identified as the "Katpootl", which was perhaps the Lewis River as there was a Multnomah village of similar name at the confluence. This type specimen w