割喉鳟的拉丁文种小名“clarkii”源于刘易斯与克拉克远征,原因是探险家威廉·克拉克在1805年的远征日记中首次记载了在现今蒙大拿州大瀑布城附近的密苏里河上游中看到的一条割喉鳟;割喉鳟的亚种之一西坡割喉鳟(O. c. lewisi)则是以梅里韦瑟·刘易斯命名。而俗名“割喉鳟”则是源于户外运动作家查尔斯·哈劳克(Charles Hallock,1834~1917)于1884年在为 《美国钓客》(The American Angler)杂志写的一篇文章中对其的形容[2]。
美国鱼类学家罗伯特·J·本克(Robert J.Behnke,1929~2013)在其2002年出版的《北美鳟鲑》(Trout and Salmon of North America)一书中按照地理区域指认了14个割喉鳟亚种[14],但其描述并不都科学,在许多分类学身份上存在不同意见[15][16]。有说法认为割喉鳟源自一个在300~500万年前的上新世晚期或更新世早期从太平洋沿岸通过哥伦比亚河和斯内克河扩散进入山区的钩吻鳟属共同祖先,而这段时期中冰期和间冰期之间的反复交换使得割喉鳟的种群被隔离和碎片化,最终使得不同亚种形成[17]。14个割喉鳟亚种可以被归为四个演化组,分别是沿海(Coastal)、西坡(Westslope)、黄石(Yellowstone)和拉洪坦(Lahontan)[18]。
^Trotter, Patrick C. Evolution and Prehistoric Distribution. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 51. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Evolution and Prehistoric Distribution. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 56–57. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Greenback Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 389–398. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Extinct Species. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 459–465. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Bonneville Cutthroat trout. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 321–330. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Its range is designated as the Humboldt River distinct population segment of O. c. henshawi by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Nevada Division of Wildlife Trotter, Patrick C. Humboldt Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 191–214. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Finespotted Snake River. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 295–319. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 103–143. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Extinct Subspecies. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 449–465. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 245–294. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 359–388. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.
^Trotter, Patrick C. Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West 2nd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2008: 421–447. ISBN 978-0-520-25458-9.