Courting pairs

Fish identification books typically depict a male and female salmon together in drawings or paintings to represent adults of a given salmon species. This gallery is comprized of similarly themed photographs but in actual and thus more realistic poses than what is typically published.

Sockeye Salmon preparing to spawn
Underwater view of a Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female probing her redd with her anal fin during preparation for spawning in a clear groundwater fed stream in the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska during summer.
Alaska PacificSalmon probing SalmonBehavior 25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship diadromous diadromy excavating redd fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Courting Coho Salmon
A male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) approaches a female who is using her anal fin to probe the redd she is excavating.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sea Sea internal correction lens Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship in situ living naturalworld nature near Cordova organism underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Crossing over
Alpha male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) stimulates female during courtship by crossing over the posterior end of her body.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sea Sea internal correction lens Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate WPY2022 alpha male biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship crossingover in situ living male behavior naturalworld nature near Cordova organism spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon spawing pair
Nuptial coloration or breeding colors of these courting Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) for both sexes consists of a grey to green body with white lower jaws and belly. The large spots on the back and tail is the diagnostic characteristic of the species. The sexes differ in body morphology with the male having a dorsal hump and elongated jaws with larger teeth.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hartney Creek 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 WPY2022 biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship in situ living naturalworld nature near Cordova organism underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon www.salmonography.com
Courting Sockeye Salmon
A Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) courting pair.
25Mile Creek Alaska Biology Copper River Delta Ecology Reproductive behavior South Central Alaska Summer United States WPY2022 biological biosphere breeding pair courtship in situ living naturalworld organism underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon courting
Nuptial coloration or breeding colors of these courting Sockeye Salmon a.k.a. Red Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) for both sexes consists of a red body, green head, and white lower jaws. The female has a whiter belly. They differ in body morphology with the male having a slight dorsal hump and elongated jaws with larger teeth. The red color of the male's caudal peduncle can be a brighter red tint like this example.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors breeding pair chordate courtship in situ living naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon www.salmonography.com
Chinook Salmon courtship
An alpha male Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) crosses over a female probing her redd with her anal fin.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Demospongiae Dactylospongia sp.Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Order Dictyoceratida Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Phylum Porifera Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 1 Spongiidae Subclass Neopterygii summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship crossing over in situ living naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism spawning behavior sponge underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chinook Salmon courtship
An alpha male Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) crosses over a female probing her redd with her anal fin.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Demospongiae Dactylospongia sp.Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Order Dictyoceratida Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Phylum Porifera Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 1 Spongiidae Subclass Neopterygii summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship crossing over in situ living naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism spawning behavior sponge underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chinook Salmon courtship
An alpha male Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) crosses over a female probing her redd with her anal fin.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Demospongiae Dactylospongia sp.Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Order Dictyoceratida Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Phylum Porifera Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 1 Spongiidae Subclass Neopterygii summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship crossing over in situ living naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism spawning behavior sponge underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chinook Salmon courtship
An alpha male Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) crosses over a female probing her redd with her anal fin.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Demospongiae Dactylospongia sp.Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Order Dictyoceratida Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Phylum Porifera Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 1 Spongiidae Subclass Neopterygii summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship crossing over in situ living naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism spawning behavior sponge underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chinook Salmon courtship
An alpha male Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) crosses over a female probing her redd with her anal fin.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Demospongiae Dactylospongia sp.Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Order Dictyoceratida Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Phylum Porifera Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 1 Spongiidae Subclass Neopterygii summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship crossing over in situ living naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism spawning behavior sponge underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chinook Salmon courtship
An alpha male Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) flanking a female probing her redd with her anal fin.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 1 Subclass Neopterygii summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courtship in situ living naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chinook Salmon courtship
An alpha male Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) approaches a female probing her redd with her anal fin while a sneaker male lurks downstream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska South Central Alaska 1 Subclass Neopterygii summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding pair chordate courting pair courtship in situ living naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Courting pair
A Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) courting pair.
Actinopterygii 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 Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courting pair in situ living naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
A gravid female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) pauses over her redd while her alpha male is positioned downstream.
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 gravid in situ living naturalworld nature organism spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair depicting nuptial coloration in glacier fed Power Creek near Cordova, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Snell's window Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate alpha male anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater glacial sediment in situ living lotic male behavior migratory naturalworld nature near Cordova nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior spawning pair stream turbid under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild