Sneaker males - satellite males

Male salmonids not measuring up to be alpha males will attempt to sneak-spawn. Redd excavation activity can attract a number of interested males, those other than the alpha male are known as satellite males. A sneaker male may court a female when no alpha male is present.

Coho Salmon spawning in stained-water 18-mile Creek
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) spawning in stained-water 18-mile Creek in the Copper River Delta coastal plain within the Chugach National Forest. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1D Mark IV camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
18mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning spawning act spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A sneaker male joins a Chinook Salmon pair commencing to spawn
A sneaker male joins a Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) pair commencing to spawn in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology 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 biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous squatting stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Approaching sneaker male
A sneaker Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) male attempting to joing a pair already in the act of spawning in an Alaskan glacial creek. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon 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 Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sneaker courtship
A probable jack, this sneaker Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) male courts a female while the alpha male is chasing away another male.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii summer Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courting pair courtship in situ jack jack salmon living male behavior naturalworld nature organism precocial male precocious male quivering sneaker male spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
Satellite male quivering a female Pink Salmon
In the absence of an alpha male, a small-humped satellite or sneaker male quivers a female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) who is preparing her redd for spawning.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship in situ living male behavior naturalworld nature organism quivering sneaker male underwater underwaterphoto wild
Coho Salmon spawning
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) spawning. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning spawning act spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Coho Salmon spawning act
Coho Salmon a.k.a. Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the act of spawning in an Alaska stream during the autumn. Two sneaker males are spawning along with an alpha male.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism salmonography.com semelparity semelparous spawning spawning act spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon spawning
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) spawning in the intertidal portion of a creek. Sneaker males about to join in are flanking the couple.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ intertidal spawning living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism salmonography.com semelparity semelparous spawning spawning act spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Coho Salmon spawning
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) spawning. Three sneaker males are spawning alongside the alpha male.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology 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 WPY2022 anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism salmonography.com semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Coho Salmon commencing to spawn.
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) commencing to spawn. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology 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 WPY2022 anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Spawning Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) spawning. Two sneaker males actively spawning alonside while othes approach.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Spawning habitat
A high-humped Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha; a very important species - economically and culturally) alpha male holds his position next to a female excavating her redd while a hierarchy of decreasing hump size satellite males lurk downstream. Another female pink salmon is preparing her redd about two meters away at the right edge of the frame. Photographed under water using a housed camera by natural light. Camera was triggered manually using a remote control as the photographer observed the salmon while wading about two meters upstream in Hartney Creek near Cordova, Alaska, USA.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate WPY2022 alpha male anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic male behavior migratory naturalworld nature organism probing salmonography.com semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream tailspill under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto watershed wild wild salmon
Spawning Coho Salmon including a jack
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) including a jack commencing to spawn. Additional sneaker males entering the fray.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology 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 WPY2022 anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon spawning
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) commencing to spawn. Two competing satelite males performing lateral threat display do not yet relize this.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lateral display living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water salmonography.com semelparity semelparous spawning spawning act spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon