Which defining feature gives all cutthroat trout, including the Paiute subspecies, their namesake?
Answer
The characteristic red or orange slash beneath the lower jaw.
The entire group of trout referred to as 'cutthroats' derives their common name from a specific anatomical marking present across all subspecies. This defining feature is a visible slash or streak of color, typically described as red or orange, found directly beneath the lower jaw. While the Paiute subspecies has unique markings like the caudal spot, this slash under the jaw is the universal characteristic that unites them under the cutthroat classification, contrasting them with other native trout species.

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