Signaling

Fish use body posture and movement to send signals to each other. Some of these postures exaggerate secondary sexual characteristics such as jaw size and body height in the case of salmon males. Males signal to females to stimulate them to spawn. Males and females use signals to assert dominance.

Male Coho Salmon quivers female
An alpha male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) comes alongside a female and quivers his body as part of courtship communication in a stained water Alaska stream in the Copper River Delta, Alaska during the autumn.
18mile Creek Alaska Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Copper River Delta Infraclass Teleostei 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 United States Vertebrate alpha male biosphere courtship fish behavior in situ male behavior naturalworld nature quivering spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
An alpha male Chum Salmon gapes
An alpha male Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) gapes while courting the female just ahead of him signaling his intentions to her as well as threatening two rival and gaping males. As well, another female watches as she is guarding her redd just downstream. Also visible at the top of the frame in this topside view is a school of migrating salmon in deeper water.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Hartney Creek 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 fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature near Cordova photographed under water spawning spawning act spawning behavior topside underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Courting Sockeye Salmon
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) crosses over a female to stimulate her to excavate the redd is part of courtship.
Actinopterygii Alaska Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate courtship crossingover fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature near Cordova spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
The gape threat
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) signaling a threat by gaping. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei 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 United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior gaping in situ naturalworld nature near Cordova threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A Dolly Varden male being agressive by gaping.
A Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) male being agressive by gaping. Underwater image in an Alaska stream during autumn.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior gaping in situ male behavior male threat posture naturalworld underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Gaping male Sockeye Salmon
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) schooled alongside Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) gapes to sert his dominance among the other males competeing for a female in the school.
Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior gaping in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Gaping Chum Salmon
A Gaping male Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in a school of conspecifics on their spawning migration in Montana Creek, near Talkeetna, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chinook Salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta 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 covering redd fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Cutthroat Trout gaping
Male Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) gaping during spawning migration is asserting his position in the stream.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior gaping in situ naturalworld nature threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild char wild salmon wild trout
Male Cutthroat Trout flared throat aggressive display
Male Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) challenging another fish by using the flared throat aggressive display, which reveals the red slashes giving the species its name.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild trout
Gaping Coho Salmon
A male and female Coho Salmon a.k.a. Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) exchange gapes while schooled near spawning habitat.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild
Sockeye Salmon emerging from glacial water
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) emerging from glacial water. Gaping male signaling his dominance is at the lead. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Three gaping Sockeye Salmon
Three Sockeye Salmon in this school are asserting themsleves by gaping.
Actinopterygii Alaska Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Saddlebag Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere chordate fish behavior gaping in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild
Gaping female Pink Salmon
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) signaling a threat with her gape while a Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) lurks on the bottom. Aspect ratio = 1:2.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Cordova Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Eccles Creek Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout pair in a small stream
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) male signaling a female by his raised head posture in a small tributary of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild trout
Gaping Coho Salmon male
To encouage his mate to spawn, a male Coho Salmon a.k.a. Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) gapes in an Alaska, USA stream during the autumn.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ male behavior male gaping naturalworld nature threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Dolly Varden spawning pair
Alpha male southern form Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma lordi) signals the female during courtship by extending and quivering his colorful paired fins. There is a small cascade in the background.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate alpha male biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild char wild charr wild trout
Dolly Varden spawning pair
Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) probing her redd as the male sends signals by crossing over and quivering his colorful paired fins . Aspect ratio = 2:3.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld probing spawning behavior underwater waving wild wild char wild charr wild trout
Keep away!
A female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) gapes aggressively at an intruding female.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild
Female Coho Salmon probes while male gapes
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) probes while alpha male encouages her to spawn by gaping. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate alpha male biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature probing salmonography.com spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Maturing Coho Salmon
A still bright Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) gapes while holding near a spawning area. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com spawning migration threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink salmon spawning migration
Potential alpha male Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) gaping during spawning migration. Underwater view in an Alaskan stream during the summer.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere chordate covering redd fish behavior in situ male behavior male threat posture naturalworld nature photographed under water salmonography.com spawning behavior spawning migration threat posture underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sneaker male courting
A Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) sneaker male courts a female that is in the process of building her redd while the alpha male is away fighting. He is attempting to stimulate the female into spawning using crossing over and gaping as signals. Underwater view in an Alaskan intertidal stream during the summer.
Actinopterygii 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 Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate fish behavior in situ intertidal spawning naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Aggressive posture
Head-up aggressive posture by a male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka).
Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Coastal Cutthroat Trout displaying red throat slashes
Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii; in picture at left) displaying red throat slashes while in a staging area prior to spawning. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild char wild charr wild trout
Snout up aggressive posture
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) challenging another male by raising his snout. Aspect ratio = 3:4..
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Sockeye courtship behavior
A male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) defending his place with a female (at the far left) with a snout up aggressive posture. Aspect ratio = 1:2.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere courtship fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Snout up aggressive posture
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) challenging another male by raining his snout. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Coho Salmon doing gaping threat display
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) doing the gaping threat display. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) quivering (courtship) a female, which generates surface waves. Aspect Ratio = 3:4.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate biosphere fish behavior in situ male behavior naturalworld nature quivering salmonography.com underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Sockeye Salmon threat posture
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) threatening another male by raising his snout. Aspect Ratio = 3:4.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Coho Salmon gaping during spawning migration
Potential alpha male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) gaping during spawning migration. Aspect Ratio 1:2.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature salmonography.com threat posture underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Aspect ratio = 4:5.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Cordova Hartney Bay Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost United States Vertebrate biosphere in situ naturalworld nature underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon male gaping threat display
Gaping, a threat display by a male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Aspect Ratio = 1:2.5.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska 2 Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost United States Vertebrate aggression biosphere fish behavior gaping in situ naturalworld nature portfolio salmonography.com underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon