False spawning
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.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
False spawning
False spawning: three male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) releasing milt as female watches from downstream. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromous fishanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
False spawning
A female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) probes her redd as milt from a false spawning dissipates downstream.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatecovering redddiadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturephotographed under waterprobingsemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Pink Salmon false spawning
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is positioned alongside her redd allowing milt to disipate after a false spawning
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situintertidal spawningloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
False spawning
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) males escaping the fracas of a false spawning in an intertidal stream.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiCordovaEccles CreekHumpback SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus gorbuschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPink SalmonPrince William SoundSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situintertidal spawningloticmale behaviormigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorspawning fracasspawning meleestreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
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 poking over the female's caudal peduncle from her right side in background of shot.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratealpha maleanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situjackjack salmonloticmigratorynaturalworldnatureprecocial maleprecocious malesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
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.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situjackjack salmonloticmigratorynaturalworldnatureprecocial maleprecocious malesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
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.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
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.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturesemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
False spawning end
With at least six males piled up on her redd as a false spawning comes to an end, the female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) has shifted to a higher position.
ActinopterygiiAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebratebiospherechordatefalse spawningin situnaturalworldnaturespawning behaviorunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
False spawning end 1/2
With males piled up on her redd as a false spawning comes to an end, the female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) gapes as she shifts to a higher position.
ActinopterygiiAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateaggressionbiospherechordatefalse spawninggapingin situnaturalworldnaturespawning behaviorunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
False spawning end 2/2
With males piled up on her redd as a false spawning comes to an end, the female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) has shifted to a higher position along with one male.
ActinopterygiiAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebratebiospherechordatein situnaturalworldnatureunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
False spawning 1/3
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) pile up during a false spawning. 1 of 3
ActinopterygiiAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebratebiospherechordatein situnaturalworldnatureunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
False spawning 2/3
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) pile up during a false spawning. 2 of 3
ActinopterygiiAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebratebiospherechordatein situnaturalworldnatureunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
False spawning 3/3
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) pile up during a false spawning. 3 of 3
ActinopterygiiAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebratebiospherechordatein situnaturalworldnatureunderwaterunderwaterphotowild
False spawning
Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) stimulates overly eager males including two jacks to false spawn by probing her redd in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChinook SalmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiKing SalmonMontana CreekNeopterygiiOncorhynchus tshawytschaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerSusitna River TributaryTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromybiospherechordatediadromousdiadromyfalse spawningfresh waterfreshwaterin situjackjack salmonloticmigratorynaturalworldnaturenear Talkeetnaprecocial maleprecocious maleprobingsemelparitysemelparousspawning behaviorstreamunder fresh waterunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon