Breeding colors
Sockeye male nuptial coloration
Nuptial coloration suggests that this mature male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is ready to spawn.
25Mile CreekActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiCopper River DeltaInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterloticmalemigratorynuptial colorationredsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwater
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) males in nuptial coloration.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoastal Cutthroat TroutCordovaEccles CreekInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus clarkiiOncorhynchus clarkii clarkiiPacific troutPhylum ChordataPrince William SoundSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situiteroparityiteroparousloticmalemigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsearunstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
Humpy
Humpy, a popular alternate common name for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) comes from the pronounced dorsal hump of mature males like this one in nuptial coloration.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiMontana CreekNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSusitna River TributaryTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmalemigratorynaturalworldnaturenear Talkeetnasemelparitysemelparousstreamsummerunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Male Coho Salmon face-off
Breeding color variation of male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) facing off with a lateral display.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonDolly VardenDolly Varden CharDolly Varden CharrDolly Varden Charr southern formInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSalvelinus malmaSalvelinus malma lordiSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situlateral displayloticmale aggressionmale behaviormigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Coho Salmon male nuptial coloration
Coho Salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch) male nuptial coloration underwater in an Alaska stream during autumn.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmalemigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair turning in opposite directiosns reveal differences between male and female head profiles and nuptial coloration.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon
A Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) observes a Chum Salmon (O. keta)
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChinook SalmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiKing SalmonNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaOncorhynchus tshawytschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationphotographed under watersemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Chum Salmon spawning pair
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) spawning pair
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationphotographed under watersemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Male Coho Salmon
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Dolly Varden male
A Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) male's lower jaw develops into a kype with maturation.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonDolly VardenDolly Varden CharDolly Varden CharrDolly Varden Charr southern formInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSalvelinus malmaSalvelinus malma lordiSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situiteroparityiteroparousloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild charwild charrwild salmonwild trout
Coho Salmon male
A mostly red colored mature Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) male.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Partially spawned out Sockeye Salmon male
Partially spawned-out Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) male with the lighter colored caudal peduncle variant in full nuptial coloration.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
Male Pink Salmon in dappled light
Dappled light illuminates this mature male Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the low-tide shallows of Eccles Creek, near Cordova, Alaska.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiCordovaEccles CreekHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonPrince William SoundSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair depicting nuptial coloration in glacier fed Power Creek near Cordova, Alaska.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPower CreekRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSnell's windowSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratealpha maleanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatecourtshipdiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterglacial sedimentin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenear Cordovanuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorspawning pairstreamturbidunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout female
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) female showing breeding coloration (nutial coloration) in a small tributary of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoastal Cutthroat TroutCordovaEccles CreekInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus clarkiiOncorhynchus clarkii clarkiiPacific troutPhylum ChordataPrince William SoundSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSearun Coastal Cutthroat TroutSouth Central AlaskaSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfemalefresh waterfreshwaterin situiteroparityiteroparousloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsearunstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmonwild trout
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout pair in a small stream
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) pair (male in foreground) showing breeding colors in a small tributary of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoastal Cutthroat TroutCordovaEccles CreekInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus clarkiiOncorhynchus clarkii clarkiiPacific troutPhylum ChordataPrince William SoundSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSearun Coastal Cutthroat TroutSouth Central AlaskaSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situiteroparityiteroparousloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsearunstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmonwild trout
Dolly Varden and Chinook Salmon female
Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) shadowing a Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) female. Aspect Ratio = 16:9.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChinook SalmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiDolly VardenDolly Varden CharDolly Varden CharrDolly Varden Charr southern formInfraclass TeleosteiKing SalmonNeopterygiiOncorhynchus tshawytschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSalvelinus malmaSalvelinus malma lordiSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situiteroparityiteroparousloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationphotographed under watersemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild charwild charrwild salmonwild trout
Male Chum Salmon
Mature male Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in breeding coloration.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationphotographed under watersemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Red dorsal fin dash
This mature Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female sports an unusual red dash on her dorsal fin. Underwater view in an Alaskan stream during the summer.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Spawning colors of Coho Salmon
Spawning colors of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) reflected in a shallow stream. Aspect ratio = 1:2.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromous fishanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsalmonography.comsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon with a precotial male parr
Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) with a precotial male parr in spawning area of the Yakima River, Washington. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
ActinopterygiiAlaska wild salmonChinook SalmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiEastonInfraclass TeleosteiKing SalmonNeopterygiiOncorhynchus tshawytschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateWashington StateYakima Riveranadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmale behaviormigratorynaturalworldnaturephotographed under waterprecocious parrprecotial parrsalmonography.comsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Breeding color variation
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) breeding color variation.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Pink Salmon male
A male Pink Salmon in Eccles Creek near Cordova, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiCordovaEccles CreekHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonPrince William SoundSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsalmonography.comsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Pink Salmon spawning pair
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) female probes her redd as a male guards. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
AlaskaPacificSalmonprobingSalmonBehaviorActinopterygiiAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenuptial colorationsemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Two male Dolly Varden
Two male Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) males staging in a tributary of Eyak Lake, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiDolly VardenDolly Varden CharDolly Varden CharrDolly Varden Charr southern formInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSalvelinus malmaSalvelinus malma lordiSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherebreeding colorschordatediadromousfresh waterfreshwaterin situiteroparityiteroparousloticmigratorynaturalworldnuptial colorationsalmonography.comstagingstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterwildwild charwild charrwild salmonwild trout