Oncorhynchus kisutch

Oncorhynchus kisutch, commonly known as the Coho Salmon, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is one of five species of Pacific salmon.

Taxonomy

The scientific name Oncorhynchus kisutch was given to the Coho Salmon by the German naturalist Johann Julius Walbaum in 1792. The name Oncorhynchus is derived from the Greek words onkos (hook) and rhynchos (nose), referring to the hooked jaws of males during the breeding season. Kisutch is the Russian name for this species.

Description

Coho Salmon are typically silver in color during their ocean phase. They have a dark blue back with silver sides and a light belly. As they return to their spawning streams, their color changes to a bright red on the sides, with a dark back and head.

Distribution and habitat

Coho Salmon are native to the Pacific and Arctic oceans, from Monterey Bay, California, to Point Hope, Alaska, and from the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea to Japan and Russia. They inhabit both fresh and saltwater environments during their life cycle.

Life cycle

The life cycle of the Coho Salmon is complex and involves migration from freshwater to the ocean and back. They hatch in freshwater streams and rivers, spend one to two years in their natal stream, then migrate to the ocean where they grow rapidly, feeding on small fish and invertebrates. After 18 months to three years in the ocean, they return to their natal streams to spawn.

Conservation

Coho Salmon populations have been declining due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and climate change. They are currently listed as a species of concern by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

See also

• Salmon run
• Fish migration
• Salmon conservation