pelagic
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Elongated, robust body with a silvery coloration in the ocean, turning to deep olive-brown, reddish, or purple hues when spawning. They feature small black spots on the back, dorsal fin, and both lobes of the tail fin. Spawning males develop a distinct hooked jaw, known as a kype.
- Habitat
- Anadromous species found in the cold waters of the North…
- Size & weight
- Typically ranges from 24 to 36 inches and weighs 10 to 5…
- Diet
- Carnivorous. Juveniles feed primarily on aquatic insects…
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Physical characteristics
Elongated, robust body with a silvery coloration in the ocean, turning to deep olive-brown, reddish, or purple hues when spawning. They feature small black spots on the back, dorsal fin, and both lobes of the tail fin. Spawning males develop a distinct hooked jaw, known as a kype.
Habitat & distribution
Anadromous species found in the cold waters of the North Pacific Ocean and large rivers draining into it. They spend much of their adult life in deep marine pelagic zones before migrating upstream into freshwater gravel-bottomed rivers to spawn.
Behavior
Solitary or loose groups during their ocean phase, becoming strongly territorial and aggressive during upstream spawning migrations. They are primarily diurnal.
Diet
Carnivorous. Juveniles feed primarily on aquatic insects, amphipods, and other small crustaceans. Adults feed heavily on other fish such as herring, pilchards, sand lances, and squid.
Reproduction
Anadromous and semelparous. Adults make extensive upstream migrations, where females construct nests called redds in gravel beds. After depositing eggs and fertilizing them, both parents die. Juveniles emerge and typically spend time in freshwater before migrating out to sea.
Ecological role
Acts as a crucial nutrient link between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Returning salmon transport marine-derived nitrogen and phosphorus upstream, enriching freshwater and forest food webs and serving as prey for numerous mammals and birds.
Similar species
Coho salmon and Atlantic salmon; Chinook salmon can be distinguished from Coho by the black pigmentation along the gum line of the lower jaw and spots on both lobes of the caudal fin.
Identification tips
Look for black spots on both the upper and lower lobes of the tail fin, black gums on the lower jaw, and a generally larger overall size compared to other Pacific salmon species.
Interesting facts
Chinook salmon are the largest of all Pacific salmon species. They are known for undertaking massive river migrations, sometimes swimming thousands of miles upstream against strong currents to reach their natal spawning grounds.