Rainbow Trout

Name: Rainbow Trout

Scientific name: Onchorynchus mykiss

Category: Fish

Nature Stars: 50

What are nature stars?

About: A large fish, up to 60cm long. The Rainbow Trout was introduced into European fish farms from North America and have now become established in rivers and lakes throughout the country. It can live in poorer quality water than our native Brown Trout or Salmon. A predatory fish, feeding on insect larvae, small fish and famously on flying insects such as mayflies and damselflies, which it jumps out of the water to catch.

How to identify: Told from the similar Brown Trout by the broad purpley pink stripe running down the flanks.

Where: Found throughout the country.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 60
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 50
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 70

Fantastic fact: Rainbow Trout has been introduced to every continent except Antarctica.

Photograph credit: Michel Roggo/naturepl