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