ExploreFish

Atlantic Salmon

Salmo salar

The Atlantic Salmon is a famous fish that travels from the ocean to freshwater rivers to spawn! They are known for their delicious flavor.

Habitat: Ocean and freshwater rivers

Appearance

The Atlantic Salmon is a streamlined fish with a silvery body that often darkens to bronze or green when in freshwater for spawning. It has small dark spots, mainly above its lateral line, and a slightly forked tail. This fish has a sleek, torpedo-like shape.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderSalmoniformesFamilySalmonidaeGenusSalmo

Atlantic Salmon

Interesting facts

Atlantic Salmon are born with stripey "parr" markings, like camouflage in riverbeds!

Some salmon are "skip-spawners" and return to the ocean for another year before breeding.

Their incredible migration journeys can cover thousands of miles across the open ocean!

Wild Atlantic Salmon populations are now much rarer than farmed salmon you find in stores.

Special abilities

Atlantic Salmon can leap high waterfalls because of their powerful tail muscles that help them overcome river obstacles.

Atlantic Salmon has an incredible sense of smell that helps them find their exact birth river from thousands of ocean miles away.

Atlantic Salmon can change their body to live in both fresh and saltwater because of a special adaptation called smoltification.

Measurements & details

Length: 50-100 cm
Weight: 2-15 kg
Lifespan: 4-13 years
Swim Speed: 15 km/h
Max Depth: 200 m
Water Type: Brackish

Diet & Feeding

Young salmon eat tiny bugs, while adults feast on smaller fish in the ocean.

Age differences: Juveniles in rivers eat insect larvae and small invertebrates. Adults in the ocean primarily eat smaller fish.

Primary Foods

aquatic insects
small crustaceans
capelin
herring
sand eels

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Ospreys catch salmon from rivers and coastal waters.

eats

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Harbor Seals hunt adult salmon in estuaries and coastal waters.

eats

Human

Homo sapiens

Humans have historically fished Atlantic Salmon for food.

hunts

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua

Young salmon may be hunted by larger fish like Atlantic Cod.

Traits

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!

Freshwater

Discover animals and plants that live in non-salty water, like rivers, lakes, and ponds! These watery homes are vibrant with life.

Regenerative

Imagine if you could grow back a lost arm or tail! Some incredible creatures have the power to regrow body parts, making them truly amazing survivors in nature.

Aquatic

Discover amazing creatures that call water their home, whether it's oceans, rivers, or lakes! These habitats are full of incredible life.

Marine

Dive into the vast, salty waters of the ocean, teeming with an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales! It's a watery wonderland.

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.