Snake River cutthroat trout are also known as the finespotted cutthroat trout. They are derived from Yellowstone cutthroat trout (O. c. bouvieri); these two species are morphologically similar (except for spotting pattern and subtle color differences) and are presently genetically indistinguishable. Some authors consider finespotted cutthroat trout as a morphological variant of O. c. bouvieri, whereas others consider it a valid subspecies O. c. behnkei (Behnke 2002). The name stems from the native range of the fish in the Snake River of western Wyoming and eastern Idaho, as well as the unique spotting pattern of 

The Snake River cutthroat resides not only in large lakes and reservoirs, but also fast flowing rivers and small streams. Adults tend to migrate into spring fed tributaries during the spring spawning season, which begins in March and lasts into the summer months. Newly hatched fry will remain in the low flow creeks for up to one year before moving to broader areas in search of a more sustainable diet.

Similar to other trout, the Snake River Cutthroat feeds primarily on aquatic insects. Occasionally they are known to prey on small terrestrial insects as well, and when they have grown to a decent size they will also actively search out other fish as their main food source.

Snake River cutthroat reach sexual maturity for spawning after three years, and will continue to reproduce once each spring/summer throughout their lifetime. Spawning occurs in a "redd" , which is a nest created in the gravel of a stream bed. A fish will use its tail to create a round/oval spot in the gravel for laying the eggs, and after fertilization small pebbles are used to cover up the eggs for protection from being swept downstream or noticed by predators. 

A typical three year old female can carry as many as 800 eggs, while a six year old female may produce up to 2500 eggs. The newly fertilized eggs will be bright orange until they hatch within one month. 

Snake River cutthroat prefer colder water (below 50 degrees), which keeps their growth at a slower pace. Freshly fertilized eggs will hatch after approximately four weeks and become sac fry. The small sac fry will begin to absorb their attached yolk sac for nutrients over several weeks. Once the yolk sac has been used the fry will then swim to the water surface in search of food. 

In water temperatures of 48-50 degrees, the cutthroat will grow an average of one half inch per month. Warmer water, or more abundant food supply, will speed up the process. In the wild they may reach 8 to 10 years old. Average size caught by anglers is typically 12 to 20 inches, although the largest ever recorded for Snake River or Yellowstone cutthroat were 31 to 33 inches.