A further look at Oshima's research shows that compared with other trout, the Taiwan trout tends to have fewer spots on its back, with fewer ribs in its fins. The color of its side spots are quite clear, and the combination of these features make the fish unique to Taiwan.
大島正滿的研究裡，台灣鱒和其它鱒魚比較，背鰭條數和體側斑點比較少、吻端較長、腹面的橢圓斑紋清楚，證實它為台灣特有亞種，國內學者便依山胞的稱呼，為原本誤為櫻花鉤吻鮭的「台灣鱒」正名。