Overview
The Splake is difficult to identify externally because it resembles both parents in different aspects. The body shape is intermediate between the heavier lake trout and the slimmer Brook Trout. The shape of the tail is also intermediate. It is not as deeply forked as that of the lake trout, and more closely resembles the slightly indented tail of the brook trout. In coloration and markings, the Splake more closely resembles the brook trout. It can be positively identified by the number of pyloric caeca, the worm like appendages on the intestinal tract right after the stomach. The Brook Trout, which is the smaller parent, has only 23 55 (usually less than 50) pyloric caeca, while the intermediate sized hybrid has 65 85, and the Lake Trout, the larger parent, has 93 208 (usually 120 180).
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Salmonidae
- Genus
- Salvelinus
- Species
- namaycush x S. fontinalis
Habitat
Splake primarily inhabit cold, deep, oligotrophic lakes and reservoirs with water temperatures below 15°C, similar to their parent species. They prefer rocky substrates and areas with high oxygen levels, commonly found in the Great Lakes region, Canada, and other stocked waters in North America. These fish are often stocked in man-made environments to enhance sport fishing opportunities.
Diet
Splake feed on a variety of prey including smaller fish like minnows, insects, zooplankton, and crustaceans. They are opportunistic predators that hunt in open water or near the bottom, with feeding activity increasing during dawn and dusk in cooler water temperatures.
Behavior
Splake are generally solitary but may form loose schools in deeper waters; they are most active in cooler temperatures, often during early morning or evening. As hybrids, they exhibit a mix of lake trout's deep-water habits and brook trout's agility, showing migratory behavior in stocked populations for spawning areas.
Fishing
The quality of the Splake as a food fish is excellent, and due to its initial fast growth rate and game nature it is highly regarded by anglers as well. The name “Splake” is a combination of the words “Speckled” from Speckled Trout, which is an alternate common name for Brook Trout, and “Lake” from Lake Trout.
Conservation Status
Splake, as a hybrid species, do not have an official IUCN assessment; their populations are managed through stocking and depend on human efforts rather than natural reproduction. Major threats include overfishing and habitat degradation in stocked areas, but they are not considered endangered.