Redd excavation

Most salmon, trout, and charr bury their eggs in a gravel nest called a redd. A female excavates her redd by turning on her side and vigorously undulating her body which may involve some forward and upward swimming motion. Upward motion is restricted when spawning in very shallow water (depth much less than a body length) suggesting that the surface functions as a backboard. In deeper water the female will move forward at a steeper angle. The female will finesse larger sized pebbles into the center of her redd. She assesses her progress by probing: https://www.salmonography.com/Salmonid-Topic/Probing-behavior/

Redd excavation
A femaie Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) kicks up a plume of silt and gravel as she excavates her redd in a ground-water fed stream in the Copper River Delta, Alaska. The alpha male and a challenger are visible through the plume.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate chordate excavating redd underwater
Female Coho Salmon excavating redd
A female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) kicks up stream sediment while excavating her redd in an Alkaska, USA stream during the autumn.
Actinopterygii Alaska Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate excavating redd in situ naturalworld near Cordova underwater
Sockeye Salmon preparing to spawn
Underwater view of a Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female excavating her redd in preparation for spawning in a clear groundwater fed stream in the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska during summer.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta 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 excavating redd in situ naturalworld nature spawning spawning act spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon preparing to spawn
Underwater view of a Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female excavating her redd in preparation for spawning in a clear groundwater fed stream in the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska during summer.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta 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 excavating redd in situ naturalworld nature spawning spawning act spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon preparing to spawn
Underwater view of a Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female excavating her redd in preparation for spawning in a clear groundwater fed stream in the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska during summer.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta 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 excavating redd in situ naturalworld nature spawning spawning act spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon preparing to spawn
Underwater view of a Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female excavating her redd in preparation for spawning in a clear groundwater fed stream in the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska during summer.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta 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 excavating redd in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A female Pink salmon breaks the surface while excavating her redd.
A female Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) breaks the surface while excavating her redd. Her alpha male guards closely while an inquisitive female creeps into the frame (upper right).
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Summer United States topside
Female Coho Salmon kicks up glacial sediment
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) kicks up glacial sediment that was deposited during summer flow as she excavates her redd during the autumn in Power Creek near Cordova, Alaska. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sea Sea internal correction lens Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld nature near Cordova underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Pink Salmon excavating her redd
With encouragement from her quivering alpha male, a female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) excavates her redd in Hartney Creek, near Cordova, Alaska. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Hartney Creek 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 in situ naturalworld nature near Cordova underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A female Pink Salmon dimples the surface
A female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) dimples the surface while excavating her redd in Hartney Creek, near Cordova, Alaska. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Hartney Creek 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 in situ naturalworld nature near Cordova underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon raising sand and gravel while excavating her redd
Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) raising sand and gravel while excavating her redd in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
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 excavating redd in situ naturalworld nature near Talkeetna photographed under water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A gravid female Chinook Salmon turns on her side to begin a redd excavation dig
A gravid female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawyscha) turns on her side to begin a redd excavation dig 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 in situ naturalworld nature near Talkeetna photographed under water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon raising sand and gravel while excavating her redd
A gravid female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawyscha) turns on her side to begin a redd excavation dig in Montana Creek, a tributary of the Susitna River, near Talkeetna, Alaska USA during the summer.
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 in situ naturalworld nature near Talkeetna photographed under water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon raising sand and gravel while excavating her redd
A gravid female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawyscha) turns on her side to begin a redd excavation dig 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 in situ naturalworld nature near Talkeetna photographed under water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A female Sockeye Salmon digs her redd
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) digs her redd while her alpha male guards. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sea Sea internal correction lens Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate digging excavating in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A female Coho salmon diggs her redd as two males look on
A female Coho salmon diggs her redd as two males look on anticipating an opportunity to spawn.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sea Sea internal correction lens Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Varden Charr female digging her redd
Southern form Dolly Varden Charr (Salvelinus malma lordi) female digging her redd as male gurads downstream
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Varden Charr female digging her redd
Southern form Dolly Varden Charr (Salvelinus malma lordi) female digging her redd as male gurads downstream
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Dolly Varden female digging her redd
Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) female digging her redd as alpha male guards.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate digging excavating in situ naturalworld spawning behavior underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
A female Sockeye Salmon digs her redd while alpha male guards.
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) turns on her side to dig her redd while her alpha male guards downstream.
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 in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto uwphoto wild wild salmon
A female Sockeye Salmon digs deep to excavate her redd
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) digs deep to excavate her redd while her alpha male guards
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 chordate nature underwater underwater5 underwaterphoto underwaterxxxx wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon excavating her redd
Above water view of a female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) excavating her redd with alpha male just downstream of her. The object in the lower left is a decomposing salmon carcass.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Summer United States topside wild wild salmon
A Female Chinook Salmon excavates her redd
A Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) excavates her redd while three males including a jack observe.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii 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 United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate digging excavating in situ jack jack salmon naturalworld nature photographed under water precocial male precocious male spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A Female Chinook Salmon excavates her redd
A Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) excavates her redd while three males including a jack observe.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii 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 United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate digging excavating in situ jack jack salmon naturalworld nature photographed under water precocial male precocious male spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A Female Chinook Salmon excavates her redd
A Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) excavates her redd while two males observe.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii 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 United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate digging excavating in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon female breaks surface during redd excavation
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) female breaks surface during redd excavation.
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 excavating in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A Sockeye Salmon female excavates her redd
A Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female excavates her redd while her alpha male guards his position.
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 in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd excavation
With the flick of her tail a female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) clears fine sediment from her redd.
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 female behavior in situ naturalworld nature redd excavation underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd excavation
With the flick of her tail a female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) clears fine sediment from her redd.
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 female behavior in situ naturalworld nature redd excavation underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd excavation
With the flick of her tail a female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) clears fine sediment from her redd.
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 female behavior in situ naturalworld nature redd excavation underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd excavation
With the flick of her tail a female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) clears fine sediment from her redd.
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 female behavior in situ naturalworld nature redd excavation underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd excavation
With the flick of her tail a female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) clears fine sediment from her redd.
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 digging excavating female behavior in situ naturalworld nature redd excavation spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd excavation
With the flick of her tail a female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) clears fine sediment from her redd.
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 digging excavating female behavior in situ naturalworld nature redd excavation spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Excavation
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) excavating her redd followed by her alpha male and an entourage of prospective mates.
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 in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd Excavation
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) excavating her redd.
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 in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd Excavation
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) excavating her redd
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 in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Coho Salmon Excavating her redd
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) excavating her redd by turning on her side prior to flicking her tail.
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 in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon female excavating her redd
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) female excavating her redd while male guards. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
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 in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon female excavating
Female Pink Salmon a.k.a. Humpback Salmon a.k.a. Humpy (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) excavating her redd.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Saddlebag Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Redd Excavation
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhyncus nerka) kicks up a cloud of sand while excavaing her redd as her alpha male guards.
Actinopterygii Alaska 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 alpha male biosphere chordate female behavior in situ naturalworld nature redd excavation underwater underwaterphoto wild
Dolly Varden spawning pair
A Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) excavates her redd while a male guards. Aspect ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate chordate digging excavating salmonography.com spawning behavior wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Pink Salmon spawning pair
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) excavates her redd while a male guards. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate digging excavating in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon excavating
Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) excavating her redd in a tributary stream of the Copper River, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate digging excavating in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water salmonography.com spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female excavates her redd as a male guards. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
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 digging excavating in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com spawning spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Pink Salmon excavating
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) excavating her redd. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
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 digging excavating in situ intertidal spawning naturalworld nature salmonography.com spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chum Salmon excavating her redd
Female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) excavating her redd as a male guards. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
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 digging excavating in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon spawning pair
Female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) excavating her redd as a alpha male guards. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
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 alpha male biosphere chordate courtship covering redd crossing over digging excavating in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chum Salmon digging her redd
Female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) digging her redd. Underwater view in an Alaskan stream during the summer.
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 in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon