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Oncorhynchus kisutch

(coho salmon or silver salmon)

Overview

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Endangered

Threat status

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Alutiiq:

Caayuaq

Common Names in Arabic:

Sima

Common Names in Danish:

Coholaks, Japan-laks, Japanlaks, Kirsebærlaks, Koho, Masu-laks, Masulaks, Sølvlaks

Common Names in Dutch:

Cohozalm, Japanse zalm, Masouzalm

Common Names in English:

Blueback, Cherry salmon, Coho, Coho salmon, coho salmon or silver salmon, Cohoe, Cohosalmon, Grilse, Hooknose, Hoopid salmon, Jack salmon, Japanese cherry salmon, Japanese salmon, Masu, Masu salmon, Masu(=Cherry) salmon, Medium red salmon, Salmon, Salmon trout, Satsukimasu salmon, Sea trout, Silver salmon, Silverside, Slivers, White salmon

Common Names in Finnish:

Hopealohi, Kirsikkalohi, Masulohi

Common Names in French:

Saumon Argent, Saumon argenté, saumon coho, Saumon du Danube, Saumon du Japon, Saumon japonais, Saumon masou

Common Names in German:

Chumlachs, Coho-Lachs, Japan-Lachs, Japanischer Lachs, Kisutch-Lachs, Lachs, Masu-Lachs, Pazifischer Lachs, Sako, Silberlachs, Wildlachs

Common Names in Greek:

Solomos Koho, Σολομός κόχο

Common Names in Greek, Modern:

Solomos Coho, Solomos Koho, Σολομός Κόχο

Common Names in Greek, Modern (1453):

Solomos coho, Solomos Koho, Σολομός Κόχο

Common Names in Haida:

Gaayda dahlgyang, T´aiya, T'aiya, Taay, Ts´iidu, Ts´iing K´iiga, Ts'iidu, Ts'iing k'iiga, Tyaayii

Common Names in Heiltsuk:

Zúṇ

Common Names in Italian:

Salmone argentato, Salmone del Pacifico, Salmone giapponese

Common Names in Japanese:

Amago, Biwamasu, Gin-zake, Honmasu, Sakuramasu, Satsukimasu, Yamame, サクラマス(スギノコ)

Common Names in Korean:

Salmo, Shima-yeon-eo, 은연어

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

台湾马苏大麻哈鱼(樱花吻鲑), 台湾鳟, 台灣馬蘇大麻哈魚(櫻花吻鮭), 台灣鱒, 銀大麻哈魚(銀鮭), 银大麻哈鱼(银鲑), 馬蘇大麻哈魚(河川型), 马苏大麻哈鱼(河川型)

Common Names in Nepali:

Amago

Common Names in Norwegian:

Coho laks, Japansk laks, Masulaks

Common Names in Nuuchahnulth:

Cuwit, Sina-wa?a

Common Names in Polish:

Kizucz

Common Names in Portuguese:

Salm, Salmão japonês, Salmão prateado, Salmão-japonês, Salmão-japonÍs, Salmão-prateado

Common Names in Russian:

Belaya, Belaya ryba, Kizhuch, Sima, кижуч

Common Names in Salish:

K´with´thet, K´wolexw, K'with'thet, K'wolexw, Schaanexw, Shamet skelex, Shmexwalsh, Sin, Sináech, Sk'wel'eng's schaanexw, Slhop' schaanexw, Spak'ws schaanexw, St'thkway', Thaw´en, Thaw'en

Common Names in Serbian:

Vrsta pacifickog lososa

Common Names in Spanish:

Coho, Salm, salmón plateado, Salmo, salmón, Salmon 'coho', Salmón coho, Salmón japonés, Salmón plateado

Common Names in Swedish:

Coho-lax, Japansk lax, Masulax, Silverlax

Common Names in Tsimshian:

Ksihoon, Üük, Waak, Wüüx

Description

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Physical Description

Species Oncorhynchus kisutch

Body: Mouth and snout: Terminal , large and slightly oblique , with numerous small to medium-sized teeth on the upper and lower jaws . No barbels . Body patterning, color, and scales : SPOTS on back and upper sides, but few and faint in some individuals, giving the appearance of a solid color; juveniles also with oval dark vertical bars ( parr marks ). Background body color silvery, silver-blue, or light olive, grading to cream on belly. Spots dark brown or black; round or irregular in shape , substantially smaller than the pupil of the eye. 112-148 cycloid lateral line scales . Dorsal and tail fins tan, olive, or gray; usually with few spots. In dorsal spots limited to base of fin ; in tail spots limited to top of upper lobe . Pectoral , pelvic , and anal fins dark gray; not spotted. Adipose fin not edged in red or orange. Body shape and size: Body fusiform ; oval in cross section . In Great Lakes , typically 400-650 mm (16-26 in) TL ; maximum about 750 mm (30 in).

Fins : Tail, dorsal and other fins: Slightly forked to squared tail. Single dorsal fin with no spines and 10-15 principal rays. Pelvic fins abdominal with axillary process . Adipose fin present. Anal fin with 12-17 principal rays.

Distinguishing characteristics: The coho salmon can be most easily distinguished by its pattern of dark spots on a light background, as opposed to light spot and blotches on a dark background. See also similar species information.

Breeding adults : Males develop a hooked jaw. The body and fins of both sexes become darker (bronze, brown, or dark gray) with more pronounced spots prior to spawning and turn black after spawning. Males may have reddish or reddish-purple sides during spawning, with head and fins dark gray.

Juveniles: Have 8-12 oval vertical bars ( parr marks ) on sides. Spots relatively scarce and inconspicuous in young-of-year fish. First principal rays of anal fin substantially longer than subsequent rays, making fin distinctly falcate . Older juveniles have more adult-like spotting patterns but retain parr marks, which disappear as the fish smolt and leave the natal stream and move into the Great Lakes.

Habitat

Occurs in the ocean or in lakes , returning to streams they utilized as the time of smoltation to spawn [1].

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 3,731 meters (0 to 12,241 feet).[2]

Biome: Marine .

Biology

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Diet

Young in freshwater streams feed mainly on insects and stay almost entirely in pools and soon become strongly territorial [1]. Upon reaching the sea , the smolts remain inshore for a time, feeding on planktonic crustaceans[1]. As they grow larger, they move farther out and feed on larger organisms [1].

Migration

Young emerge in the spring and usually live in fresh water for 1-2 years (sometimes up to 4 years, Ref. 27547), after which they migrate at night to freshwater lakes or to the sea [3]. Individuals that stay more than two years in fresh water and become sexually mature without ever going to sea are called residuals ; they never spawn [1].

Behavior

Predators:

Preyed upon by various fishes , birds (mergansers, loons and kingfishers), mammals, and lamprey[3].

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Oncorhynchus kisutchOncorhynchus masou formosanumOncorhynchus masou masouOncorhynchus masou masou Brevoort • Oncorhynchus masou rhodurusOncorhynchus masou formosanum (Jordan & Oshima, 1919) • Oncorhynchus masou masou (Brevoort, 1856) • Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus Jordan & McGregor, 1925 • Oncorhynchus milktschutsch (Walbaum • Oncorhynchus rhodurus Jordan and McGregor in Jordan and Hubbs, 1925 • Polynoncus gibberosus SCHOLTZ, 1990 • Salmo formosanusSalmo formosanus Jordan & Oshima, 1919 • Salmo kisatchSalmo kisatch Walbaum • Salmo kisatch Walbaum, 1792 • Salmo kisutch Walbaum • Salmo masouSalmo masou Brevoort, 1856 • Salmo milktschutsch Walbaum • Salmo tsuppitch Richardson

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 15-Apr-1994

Similar Species

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Fish Name Spot Characteristics Tail Spots Principal Anal Rays Lateral Line Scales Inside of Mouth in Breeders Other Features Similarity Index Comments Atlantic Salmon Usually few, covering upper sides; black & sometimes red present; nearly as large as pupil of eye; round, irregular ovals, or “X” shaped Few or none, usually limited to base of tail 7-12, usually 9-11 109-121 White Branchiostegal rays usually 11-12, principal dorsal rays 11-12, adipose fin not edged in red, pyloric caecae 40-74, gill rakers 15-20, vomerine teeth poorly developed, dorsal fin with few or no spots Very similar Not native; stocked in the past without estabishing a population. Occurs only in the Great Lakes as a rare stray from other states and Ontario. Brook Trout Moderate to numerous; covering sides; cream, light, olive, yellow, red, sometimes with bluish halo; much smaller than pupil of eye; round Few and lighter 7-13, usually 9 210-244 White on the teeth, tongue, and inside of mouth, but black on the gums Branchiostegal rays usually 9-13, principal dorsal rays 10-14; adipose fin not edged in red, but dark margin in young; pyloric caecae 23-55; gill rakers 9-12; vomerine teeth well developed; dorsal fin spotted Moderately similar Brown Trout Few to many, covering most of sides; both black and red present; nearly as large as pupil of eye; round or irregular ovals in shape Few or none, usually limited to base of tail 8-12, usually 9-11 120-130 White Branchiostegal rays usually 10, principal dorsal rays 9-11, adipose fin often edged in red, pyloric caecae 30-60, gill rakers 14-17, vomerine teeth well developed, dorsal fin spotted Very similar Chinook Salmon Moderate to numerous, limited to upper half of sides; black only; much smaller than pupil of eye; round or irregular in shape Moderate to numerous and on both lobes 14-19 130-165 Black or dark gray Branchiostegal rays usually 13-19, principal dorsal rays 10-14, adipose fin not edged in red, pyloric caecae 140-185, gill rakers 16-26, vomerine teeth well developed, dorsal fin spotted Very similar Coho Salmon Usually few, and limited to back and upper sides; black only; much smaller than pupil of eye; round or irregular in shape Few, limited to top of upper lobe 12-17, 1st ray elongated; fin distinctly falcate in YOY 112-148 Black or gray; gums white Branchiostegal rays usually 11-15, principal dorsal rays 9-12, adipose fin not edged in red, pyloric caecae 45-114, gill rakers 18-25, vomerine teeth well developed, dorsal fin with few or no spots N/A Lake Trout Many; covering sides; cream to light olive; much smaller than pupil of eye; irregular shape, much smaller than pupil of eye Numerous and on both lobes 8-10 185-210 White Branchiostegal rays usually 10-14, principal dorsal rays 8-10, adipose fin not edged in red, pyloric caecae 93-208, gill rakers 16-26, vomerine teeth well developed, dorsal fin spotted Moderately similar Pink Salmon Numerous and on both lobes, forming lines of elongated oval spots along rays Numerous and on both lobes, forming lines of elongated oval spots along rays 13-19 147-205 Tongue and tip of jaw black or gray; gums white Branchiostegal rays usually 9-15, principal dorsal rays 10-15, adipose fin not edged in red, pyloric caecae 95-224, gill rakers 24-35, vomerine teeth well developed, dorsal fin with few or no spots Very similar Rainbow Trout Many, covering most of sides; black only; much smaller than pupil of eye; round or irregular in shape Numerous and on both lobes 8-12 100-150 White Branchiostegal rays usually 9-13, principal dorsal rays 10-12, adipose fin not edged in red, pyloric caecae 27-80, gill rakers 16-22, vomerine teeth well developed, dorsal fin heavily spotted Very similar Kokanee Salmon Almost none, limited to upper back; black only; much smaller than pupil of eye; round to slightly oval in shape None 11-16, usually 13-14 121-140 Dark gray with white mottling Branchiostegal rays usually 13-14, principal dorsal rays 11-13, adipose fin not edged in red, pyloric caecae 50-87, gill rakers 29-43, vomerine teeth well developed, dorsal fin with few or no spots Very similar

Members of the genus Oncorhynchus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 51 species and subspecies in this genus:

O. adonis (Grass Rockfish) · O. aguabonita (California Golden Trout) · O. apache (Arizona Trout) · O. chrysogaster (Coastal Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarki (Coastal Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarkii (Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarkii bouvieri (Yellowstone Cutthroat Throat) · O. clarkii clarkii (Clark's Trout) · O. clarkii henshawi (Lahontan Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarkii lewisi (Salmon) · O. clarkii macdonaldi (Yellowfin Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarkii pleuriticus (Colorado River Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarkii seleniris (Paiute Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarkii stomias (Greenback Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarkii utah (Bonneville Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarki clarki (Clark's Trout) · O. clarki henshawi (Lahontan Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarki lewisi (Westslope Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarki macdonaldi (Yellowfin Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarki pleuriticus (Colorado River Cutthroat) · O. clarki seleniris (Paiute Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarki utah (Bonneville Cutthroat Trout) · O. clarki virginalis (Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout) · O. gilae (Gila Or Apache Trout) · O. gilae apache (Apache Trout) · O. gilae gilae (Gila Trout) · O. gorbuscha (Humpbacked Salmon) · O. ishikawai (Satsukimasu Salmon) · O. iwame (Iwame Trout) · O. keta (Calico Salmon) · O. kisutch (Coho Salmon Or Silver Salmon) · O. masou (Japanese Cherry Salmon) · O. masou formosanum (Cherry Salmon) · O. masou formosanus (Cherry Salmon) · O. masou macrostomus (Salmon) · O. masou masou (Cherry Salmon) · O. masu (Baja California Rainbow Trout) · O. mykiss (Baja California Rainbow Trout) · O. mykiss gairdneri (Inland Redband Trout) · O. mykiss gairdnerii (Columbia River Redband Trout) · O. mykiss gilberti (Kern Golden Trout) · O. mykiss irideus (Coastal Rainbow Trout) · O. mykiss mykiss (Kamchatkan Rainbow Trout) · O. mykiss stonei (Baiser) · O. mykiss whitei (Little Kern Golden Trout) · O. nerka (Sockeye Salmon Or Kokanee) · O. nerka nerka (Sockeye Salmon Or Kokanee) · O. masou subsp. masou (Amago) · O. rhodurus (Amago) · O. tschawytscha (Chinook Salmon Or King Salmon) · O. tshawytscha (Chinook Salmon Or King Salmon)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 02, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Morrow, J.E. (1980). The freshwater fishes of Alaska. University of. B.C. Animal Resources Ecology Library. 248p. [back]
  2. Mean = 252.560 meters (828.609 feet), Standard Deviation = 524.760 based on 5,192 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
  3. Scott, W.B. and E.J. Crossman (1973). Freshwater fishes of Canada. Bull. Fish. Res. Board Can. 184:1-966. [back]
Last Revised: 7/14/2012