False spawning

False spawnings can occur several times prior to an actual spawning. Males may release sperm during a 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.
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 anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater 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 anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water 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 anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate covering redd diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature photographed under water probing semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto 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
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 anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ intertidal spawning lotic migratory naturalworld nature semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False spawning
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) males escaping the fracas of a false spawning in an intertidal stream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Eccles Creek Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ intertidal spawning lotic male behavior migratory naturalworld nature semelparity semelparous spawning behavior spawning fracas spawning melee stream under fresh water 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 poking over the female's caudal peduncle from her 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 alpha male anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ jack jack salmon lotic migratory naturalworld nature precocial male precocious male semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water 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 anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ jack jack salmon lotic migratory naturalworld nature precocial male precocious male semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
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 anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
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 anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild 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.
Actinopterygii Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate aggression biosphere chordate false spawning gaping in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild
False spawning 1/3
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) pile up during a false spawning. 1 of 3
Actinopterygii Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild
False spawning 2/3
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) pile up during a false spawning. 2 of 3
Actinopterygii Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild
False spawning 3/3
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) pile up during a false spawning. 3 of 3
Actinopterygii Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild
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
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 anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy false spawning fresh water freshwater in situ jack jack salmon lotic migratory naturalworld nature near Talkeetna precocial male precocious male probing semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon