05-09-2005, 02:50 PM
There were questions on a recent thread about the "families" of trout and char. The word "family" does not apply to these distinctions, rather we should use the word "genus". Previously, all "chars" (arctic, lake trout, brook trout, Dolly Varden, Bull trout) were grouped into the genus Salvelinus, while all trout (brown, rainbow, cutthroat, etc.) and salmon were grouped into the genus Salmo. The genus Salmo now only includes the Atlantic species--Atlantic salmon and brown trout. A new genus--Oncorhyncus--was created for the Pacific species--Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, golden trout. The genus Salvelinus remains as always--the chars. Hope this clears up some confusion.
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