Oncorhynchus aguabonita, commonly known as the Golden Trout, is a striking fish native to the cold, clear streams and alpine lakes of California's Sierra Nevada. Renowned for its vibrant coloration, this trout displays golden scales with red horizontal bands. It prefers cool, oxygen-rich waters and is a symbol of pristine wilderness. As a native species, it plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, contributing to the aquatic food web and supporting biodiversity.

Oncorhynchus aguabonita, commonly known as the Golden Trout, is native to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, USA. It is specifically found in the Kern Plateau region, including the South Fork Kern River and Golden Trout Creek, which are part of the Kern River basin.

The Golden Trout inhabits cold, clear mountain streams and lakes at high elevations, typically between 2,300 to 3,350 meters (7,500 to 11,000 feet). The environment is characterized by alpine meadows and coniferous forest ecosystems, with a climate that includes cold winters with heavy snowfall and mild summers.

This species thrives in oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) waters with a rocky or gravel substrate. The ecological niche of the Golden Trout includes feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects, and it plays a role in the food web both as a predator of smaller organisms and as prey for larger predators, including birds and mammals. The Golden Trout is well adapted to the pristine, undisturbed habitats of the high Sierra Nevada, with specific adaptations such as vibrant coloration for camouflage among the varied light conditions of its alpine environment.