# Chum Salmon (*Oncorhynchus keta*) Chum Salmon are shiny fish that live in the ocean and swim upstream to lay their eggs. They are known for their pinkish color and are a favorite food for many animals! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas and rivers - **Also known as:** Dog Salmon, Keta Salmon ![Chum Salmon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oncorhynchus_keta_336282130.jpg&width=800) Photo: Focus Saranpat Ouilapan, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oncorhynchus_keta_336282130.jpg) ## Appearance The Chum Salmon has a silvery-blue back and flanks when in the ocean, fading to white underneath. During spawning, they develop distinctive dark vertical bars or blotches on their sides, and males grow large, hooked jaws with prominent teeth, earning them the nickname 'dog salmon'. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Salmoniformes - **Family:** Salmonidae - **Genus:** Oncorhynchus ## Interesting facts - Chum Salmon are semelparous, meaning they only reproduce once in their life before they die. - Chum Salmon eggs, called roe, are an important food source for many animals, from birds to bears! - They are sometimes called 'dog salmon' because of the large, canine-like teeth males develop during spawning. - They are the most widespread salmon species in the Pacific, found from California to Korea! ## Special abilities - **Super Navigator:** Chum Salmon can navigate thousands of miles back to their exact birth river because of their incredible sense of smell. - **Color Changer:** Chum Salmon can dramatically change color from silver to vibrant greens and purples for camouflage and mating displays. - **River Runner:** Chum Salmon can swim long distances upstream in rivers, even leaping over obstacles, to reach their spawning grounds. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-75 cm - **Weight:** 4.5-10 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Swim Speed:** 30 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 250 m - **Water Type:** Brackish ## Diet & Feeding Chum Salmon are ocean hunters, feasting on small marine creatures. - **Age differences:** Young salmon eat plankton and insect larvae; adults primarily eat small fish and invertebrates in the ocean. - **Primary Foods:** zooplankton, small fish, squid, jellies, insects - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Brown Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-bear) (*Ursus arctos*) — Bears rely heavily on salmon during their spawning runs. - **Eats:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Eagles catch salmon from rivers and scavenge carcasses. - **Hunts:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Pods of orcas prey on salmon in coastal ocean waters. - **Eats:** [Western Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gull) (*Larus occidentalis*) — Gulls feed on salmon eggs and fry in estuaries. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay close to an adult when near water, as it can be slippery and deep. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chum Salmon? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Chum Salmon? 55-75 cm ### How much does Chum Salmon weigh? 4.5-10 kg ### How long does Chum Salmon live? 3-5 years ### What does Chum Salmon eat? Chum Salmon are ocean hunters, feasting on small marine creatures. ### How fast can Chum Salmon swim? 30 km/h ### Where is Chum Salmon usually found? Coastal areas and rivers ### How does Chum Salmon hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Goldstream Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goldstream-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Chum Salmon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/chum-salmon) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Chum Salmon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chum-salmon)