Atlantic Salmon
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
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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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
Ability
Leaping Power
Atlantic Salmon can leap high waterfalls because of their powerful tail muscles that help them overcome river obstacles.
Ability
Smell Navigator
Atlantic Salmon has an incredible sense of smell that helps them find their exact birth river from thousands of ocean miles away.
Ability
Water Transformer
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
- Maximum 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
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Regenerative
Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Migratory
Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.
Also known as
Salmon
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Atlantic Salmon?
50-100 cm
How much does Atlantic Salmon weigh?
2-15 kg
How long does Atlantic Salmon live?
4-13 years
What does Atlantic Salmon eat?
Young salmon eat tiny bugs, while adults feast on smaller fish in the ocean.
How fast can Atlantic Salmon swim?
15 km/h
Where is Atlantic Salmon usually found?
Ocean and freshwater rivers
How does Atlantic Salmon hunt?
Pursuit
How deep can Atlantic Salmon go?
200 m
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