Parr marks

Parr marks are the dark ovals or bands on the sides of young salmonid fishes. Salmonids with parr marks are often called parr. Although underyearling salmonids may have parr marks, they are referred to as fry because of their small size. Male parr of certain salmon can mature and spawn so are referred to as precocial parr. Faded parr marks may be visible on freshwater (non-adadromous) residents that mature at a small size. Parr marks, which function as camoulflage, are useful for identifying juvenile salmonids since the marks vary by species.

Coho Salmon parr orientation
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) parr orienting into a small stream entering an Alaska lake during winter.
100° objective EMWL Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Cordova Eyak Lake Infraclass Teleostei Nauticam Water Contact Optic Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological chordate fry living organism parr parr marks rheotaxis under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild winter www.salmonography.com
Coho Salmon fry head
Close-up underwater photograph of a Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) fry rearing in Eyak Lake, Alaska resolving individual chromatophores of various types as well as incipient parr marks.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Cordova Ecology Eyak Lake Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound SMC1 Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate chromatophore fry in situ living naturalworld nature organism parr marks under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild winter www.salmonography.com
Dolly Varden parr
Parr marks are visible on this juvenile Dolly Varden Charr (southern form; Salvelinus malma lordi) that is rearing alongside Coastal Cutthroat Trout and Coho Salmon fry in a tribitary stream of Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Coho Salmon Cordova Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Eccles Creek Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound RS28mm Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological chordate feeding feeding aggregation fresh water freshwater fry habitat juvenile living lotic organism stream stream ecology summer under fresh water underwater
Coho Salmon parr pair
A pair of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) parr.
Alaska Biology Ecology Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring United States biological biosphere in situ juvenile living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Parr of three salmonids
Parr stage Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch; lower left), Coastal Cutthroat Trout (O. clarkii clarkii; above center) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma; right of center).
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Coho Salmon Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ juvenile living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Coho Salmon parr and juvenile Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) parr and juvenile Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) in a dispersed school in front of a North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) lodge (in background)
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Castor canadensis Castoridae Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Mammalia Coastal Cutthroat Trout Coho Salmon Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii North American Beaver Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Oncorhynchus kisutch Order Rodentia Pacific salmon Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Rodentia Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy beaver lodge biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ juvenile lentic living lotic mammal migratory naturalworld nature organism pond rheotaxis semelparity semelparous under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden parr
The parr marks of this Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Dolly Varden (salvelinus malma) are begiining to fade with growth.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Copper River tributary Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus mykiss Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Rainbow Trout Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Steelhead Trout Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Arctic Grayling parr
Juvenile Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) of the salmonid subfamily Thymallinae have parr marks.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Arctic Grayling Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Grayling Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei Thymallinae Thymallus arcticus United States Vertebrate White Mountains Yukon R. trib.biological biosphere chordate in situ living naturalworld organism parr marks underwater wild
Precocial parr stage male Chinook Salmon
Precocial parr stage male Chinook Salmon a.k.a. King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) eager to spawn with a full sized spawning female.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Easton Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Washington State Yakima River anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic male behavior migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water precocial parr precocious parr semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Coho Salmon alevin
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) alevin rearing in stream gravel. Parr marks beginng to develop.
6T Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Arthropoda Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Insect Invertebrate Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Trichoptera United States Vertebrate alevin arthropod biological biosphere caddisfly larvae chordate egg in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Chinook /King Salmon parr
Chinook /King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) parr rearing in a side channel of Barnard Creek, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Copper River tributary Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei Tonsina R. trib.United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Chinook /King Salmon parr
Chinook /King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) parr rearing in Barnard Creek, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Copper River tributary Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei Tonsina R. trib.United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Lost salmon eggs and fry
Pacific salmon fry rearing in a stream not far from where adults have spawned. Eggs lost during spawning litter the bottom. The three fry in the foregound include two Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the center of the frame and one Coho Salmon (O. kisutch) to the right of them.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology 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 biological biosphere chordate fry in situ living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Coho Salmon and Dolly Varden
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch; right) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma; left) rearing in 18-mile Creek, Copper River Delta, Southcentral Alaska. Spring.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater fry in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld organism parr semelparity semelparous stream summer under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon fry in a tidal creek
Underwater view of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta, Salmonidae) fry near mouth of stream while migrating out to sea near Cordova, Southcentral Alaska. Spring.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy female behavior fresh water freshwater fry in situ juvenile living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon fry in a tidal creek
Underwater view of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta, Salmonidae) fry near mouth of stream while migrating out to sea near Cordova, Southcentral Alaska. Spring.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd female behavior fry in situ juvenile living naturalworld nature organism photographed under water rheotaxis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon fry in a tidal creek
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) fry near mouth of stream while migrating out to sea. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy female behavior fresh water freshwater fry in situ juvenile living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water rheotaxis semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum and Pink salmon fry in a tidal creek
Chum and Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus keta and O. gorbuscha) fry in a tidal creek. The single Pink Salmon on the far right is identfied by its lack of parr marks.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd female behavior fry in situ juvenile living naturalworld nature organism photographed under water rheotaxis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon fry in a tidal creek
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta, Salmonidae) fry near mouth of stream while migrating out to sea near Cordova, Southcentral Alaska. Spring.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy female behavior fresh water freshwater fry in situ juvenile living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water rheotaxis semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Migrating fry
Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta; a very important species - economically and culturally) fry migrating to sea from their freshwater natal habitat at the edge of a stream near cover provided by emergent vegetation. Photographed under water with natural light using a housed camera on a polecam rig. Camera was triggered manually using a remote control as the photographer waded in Hartney Creek near Cordova, Alaska, USA.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd female behavior fry in situ living naturalworld nature organism photographed under water rheotaxis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto watershed wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon fry in a tidal creek
Underwater view of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta, Salmonidae) fry near mouth of stream while migrating out to sea near Cordova, Southcentral Alaska. Spring.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd female behavior fry in situ juvenile living naturalworld nature organism photographed under water rheotaxis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon fry in a tidal creek
Underwater view of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta, Salmonidae) fry near mouth of stream while migrating out to sea near Cordova, Southcentral Alaska. Spring.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd female behavior fry in situ juvenile living naturalworld nature organism parr marks photographed under water rheotaxis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon