Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum 1792)


Other Names: King Salmon, Quinnat Salmon, Spring Salmon

Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Source: Rudie H. Kuiter / Aquatic Photographics. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
See 'More Info' tab

Cite this page as:
M. Gomon, 2009, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2082

Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum 1792)

More Info


Depth

diadromous

Distribution

Currently stocked only in two landlocked lakes of SW VIC, temperate; freshwater; occurring in surface, open waters of these lakes.

Features

D 11-15; A 15-20; P 14-17; gill rakers in first arch 23-27

Body fusiform, stream­lined, noticeably laterally compressed in large adults, deep; head conical; snout blunt, greatly extended, narrowed, and turned down at tip in breeding males; mouth terminal, slightly oblique mouth large, reaching back well beyond eyes; well-developed, moderately large, sharp teeth on both jaws, head and shaft of vomer, palatines, and tongue. Scales small, cycloid, 130-165 along lateral line. Dorsal fin origin at mid-body, square edged; relatively long, narrow adipose fin behind dorsal fin; caudal fin broad, emarginate to shallowly forked, tips pointed; anal with long base, square edged; ventral fins rounded, abdominal with axillary process; pectorals low, tip somewhat pointed.

Size

To 150cm SL, commonly to 85cm.

Colour

Predominantly silvery, back a greenish-olive with many small, black spots, also on dorsal and adipose fins and tail. Inside mouth alongside teeth in lower jaw, a dusky grey-black; eyes olive-gold.

Feeding

Carnivorous feeding on small fishes such as galaxiids and pygmy perch but also consuming aquatic insects, crustaceans and some molluscs.

Biology

Young and adults generally spend most of their life at sea, migrating to freshwater to spawn but Australian populations are landlocked and spend their whole life in freshwater. O. tshawytscha do not spawn in the wild in Australia, populations are dependent on restocking.

Species Citation

Salmo tshawytscha Walbaum, J.J. (1792). Petri Artedi renovati. Part 3. Petri Artedi sueci genera Piscium in quibus systema totum ichthyologiae. Grypeswaldiae 723 pp. 3 pls [71]. Kamchatka, U.S.S.R.

Author

M. Gomon, 2009

Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum 1792)

References


Allen et al 2002

Lintermans 2007

McDowall, R.M. (ed.) (1980). Freshwater Fishes of South-eastern Australia.  Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed 208 pp.

Merrick & Schmida

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37094005

Biology:diadromous, breeding in freshwater

Habitat:marine and freshwater

Max Size:150 cm SL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map