Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) fish species and information / pictures of Chinook salmon - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) fish species information

Scientific Name
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Common Name
Chinook salmon

Biology
Adults return to natal streams from the sea to spawn (Ref. 27547). Fry may migrate to the sea after only 3 months in fresh water, some may stay for as long as 3 years, but generally most stay a year in the stream before migrating (Ref. 27547). Some individuals remain close inshore throughout their lives, but some make extensive migrations (Ref. 27547, 44894). Also found in lakes (Ref. 1998). Possibly up to 375 m depth (Ref. 6793). Epipelagic (Ref. 58426). Food in streams is mainly terrestrial insects and small crustaceans; in the sea, major food items include fishes, crustaceans, and other invertebrates (Ref. 27547). Young are preyed upon by fishes and birds (such as mergansers and kingfishers); adults are prey of large mammals and large birds (Ref. 1998). Highly regarded game fish (Ref. 27547). Flesh is usually red, but some are white; the red meat com

Classification

Classified By

Walbaum, 1792

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Salmons (Salmoniformes)

Family

Salmonids (Salmonidae)

Distribution

Region

Arctic, Northwest to Northeast Pacific

Distribution

Arctic, Northwest to Northeast Pacific: drainages from Point Hope, Alaska to Ventura River, California, USA; occasionally strays south to San Diego in California, USA. Also in Honshu, Japan (Ref. 6793), Sea of Japan (Ref. 1998), Bering Sea (Ref. 2850) and Sea of Okhotsk (Ref. 1998). Found in Coppermine River in the Arctic. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Range

72°N - 27°N, 136°E - 109°W

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

375 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 375 m (Ref. 58426)

Trophic Level

4.4 s.e. 0.76 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

150 cm

Common Length

70.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (68 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=4; tmax=9; Fec=4,000)

Threat To Humans

Potential pest (Ref. 12257)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated