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
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ naturalworld nature near Talkeetna spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto 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.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False spawning
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) piling up during a false spawning. The female has exited the mele and positioned herself above the fray.
Actinopterygii Alaska Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
False spawning
Multiple male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) piled up next to a nearly completed redd pocket following a false spawning. The female has moved off to the side (left side of frame) while the alpha male is downstream (in background) having left the fracas. The heavely spotted fish located above and upstream of the pile-up is a jack.
Actinopterygii Alaska Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ jack jack salmon naturalworld nature precocial male precocious male spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
False spawning
A female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) exits her redd as three sneaker males including a jack (nearest fish, just entering the fray) commence to false spawn. The alpha male is on the female's right side in background of shot.
Actinopterygii Alaska Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ jack jack salmon naturalworld nature precocial male precocious male spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
Pink Salmon false spawning
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is positioned alongside her redd allowing milt to disipate after a false spawning
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ intertidal spawning naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False spawning
A female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) probes her redd as milt from a false spawning dissipates downstream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate covering redd false spawning in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water probing spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False spawning
False spawning: three male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) releasing milt as female watches from downstream. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False Start
A male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchis nerka) spawning before the female has completed digging the redd. The female is probing with her anal fin as part of this process.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon