Covering the redd
Pebbles fly
Pebbles fly through the water just behind a female Sockeye Salmon's (Oncorhynchus nerka) caudal fin as she covers her redd after spawning. Clouds of sperm are visible emanating from the redd and downstream where the alpha male guards.
25Mile CreekActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiCopper River DeltaInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromychordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterloticmigratorysemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwater
Sockeye Salmon female covering redd after spawning
Underwater view of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female covering her redd after spawning in a clear groundwater fed stream in the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska during summer.
25Mile CreekActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiCopper River DeltaInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawningspawning actspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Chinook Salmon female covering her redd
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) female covering her redd right after spawning in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChinook SalmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiKing SalmonMontana CreekNeopterygiiOncorhynchus tshawytschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerSusitna River TributaryTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenear Talkeetnaphotographed under watersemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
A jack tags along as a female Chinook Salmon covers her redd
A jack tags along as a female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) covers her redd after spawning in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChinook SalmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiKing SalmonMontana CreekNeopterygiiOncorhynchus tshawytschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerSusitna River TributaryTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situjackjack salmonloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenear Talkeetnaphotographed under waterprecocial maleprecocious malesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamtopsideunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
A female pink salmon makes her first covering dig
A female pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) makes her first covering dig after spawning sending a few lose eggs downstream.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonCRDChordataClass ActinopterygiiCopper River DeltaHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Sockeye Salmon female beginning to cover her redd
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female beginning to cover her redd immediately after spawning
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Female Sockeye Salmon covering her redd
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covering her redd after spawning while male guards downstream
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Defense posture
A Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) alpha male aggressively defends the redd by gaping at an intruder (in background) as the female covers it with stream gravel after spawning.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiDolly VardenDolly Varden CharDolly Varden CharrDolly Varden Charr southern formInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSalvelinus malmaSalvelinus malma lordiSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateaggressionanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromydisplacement activityfresh waterfreshwatergapingin situloticmale aggressionmale behaviormale salmon diggingmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
Stones fly
A female Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spins as she completes a redd covering dig while her alpha male guards downstream.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamsummerunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
Covering Redd
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stating to make a dig that will contribute to covering her redd.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Probing
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) uses her anal fin to probe her redd between covering digs.
AlaskaPacificSalmonProbingSalmonBehaviorActinopterygiiAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Covering the redd
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) covering her redd after spawing in an intertidal stream.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiCordovaEccles CreekHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonPrince William SoundSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situintertidal spawningloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
Coho Salmon covering her redd
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) covering her redd with a quick series of digs.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Waving over redd
A female Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) waves her body over her redd as part of the covering process as a male guards.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiDolly VardenDolly Varden CharDolly Varden CharrDolly Varden Charr southern formInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSalvelinus malmaSalvelinus malma lordiSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldsemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterwildwild salmon
Covering the redd
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covering her redd.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Covering the red
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covering her redd.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawningspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Covering the redd
Female Sockeye Salmon a.k.a. Red Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covers her redd immediately after spawning as the male guards in an Alaska, USA stream during the summer. Sperm that has not drifted downstream clouds the water above the redd.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmale behaviormigratorymiltnaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawningspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
_G7G2788
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon