False spawning

False spawnings can occur several times prior to an actual spawning. Males may release sperm during a false spawning.

Female Chinook Salmon instigating overly eager males including two jacks to false spawn
Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) instigating overly eager males including two jacks to false spawn by probing her redd in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska
Alaska Chinook Salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Montana Creek Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost United States Vertebrate false spawning fish behavior near Talkeetna spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
False spawning
An attempted start to spawning by the female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is preempted by the alpha male charging after a sneaker male.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate false spawning fish behavior spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon false spawning
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is positioned alongside her redd allowing milt to disipate after a false spawning
Class Actinopterygii Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate false spawning fish behavior intertidal spawning spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
False spawning
A female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) probes her redd as milt from a false spawning dissipates downstream.
Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate false spawning fish behavior probing spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
False spawning
False spawning: three male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) releasing milt as female watches from downstream. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate false spawning fish behavior spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
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Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate false spawning fish behavior spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon