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Marine
Phase
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Spawning
Phase
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Class: Osteichthyes "Bony Fishes"
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
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Scientific
Name: Oncorhynchus nerka
Average Size: 2.2kg-3.1kg
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Life Cycle:
- Four to five years.
- Spawning males develop hooked jaw
and humped back while females remain sleek.
- Young sockeye remain in lakes a
year or more before migrating to sea.
- Most Canadian sockeye spend at
least two years in the North Pacific before returning
to their rivers of origing to spawn.
Physical Description:
- Marine
Phase
- Almost toothless
- Prominent, glassy eyes
- Slim, silver-blue, streamline
body
- No spots on tail
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Spawning Phase
- Silvery-purplish tinge, turning to
bright scarlet with a green head as they reach the
spawning grounds
- Female usually are less brightly
coloured
Fascinating Facts:
- In Alaska, sockeye are called "red
salmon" because of their spawning colours
- Name derived from Aboriginal word
sukkai
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