Species learning profile

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) is a freshwater fish associated with river habitat in North Pacific. Spawning males develop hooked jaws and vivid red sides.

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RivièreSalmonidae

At a glance

Eau
Eau douce
Habitat
Rivière
Longueur maximale
108 cm
Répartition
North Pacific
Famille
Salmonidae
Ordre
Salmoniformes

Observe

How to identify Coho salmon

  • Spawning males develop hooked jaws and vivid red sides.
  • Guide context: river habitat in North Pacific.
  • Reported maximum length: 108 cm — capable of growing longer than many people are tall. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.

Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.

Place and pattern

Where it lives—and how it behaves

Habitat and range

This species is associated with river habitat across North Pacific. Flow, seasonal floods, connected side channels, and access to spawning reaches all shape its river habitat.

Behavior

Young fish rear in streams before migrating to sea

Food-web connections

What it eats and why it matters

Diet

Aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small fish.

Ecological role

Feeds predators in both freshwater and marine habitats.

Remember

One fact worth keeping

Coho salmon peut atteindre environ 108 cm et vit souvent près de Rivière.

Think like a conservationist

A conservation lens

River fish depend on connected water. Dams, blocked migrations, pollution, and altered flow can matter even when the channel still looks wet.

This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.

Recall

Quick knowledge check

Which habitat is most closely associated with Coho salmon in this guide?

Keep exploring

References and further reading

Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.

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