Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251); 120 cm TL (female); common length : 38.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3561); max. published weight: 46.8 kg (Ref. 41037); max. reported age: 13 years (Ref. 274)
Environment
Benthopelagic; anadromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 210 m (Ref. 57178), usually ? - 10 m
Atlantic Ocean: temperate and arctic zones in northern hemisphere (Ref. 51442). In western Atlantic Ocean distributed in coast drainages from northern Quebec in Canada and Connecticut in USA (Ref. 5723) to Argentina (Ref. 9086). In eastern Atlantic Ocean distributed in drainages from the Baltic states to Portugal (Ref. 51442). Landlocked stocks are present in Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway (Ref. 6439) and in North America (Ref. 1998). Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna; except at sea). Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions
Short description
Dorsalspines
(total): 3 - 4;
Dorsalsoft rays
(total): 9 - 15;
Analspines: 3 - 4;
Analsoft rays: 7 - 11;
Vertebrae: 58 - 61. Fusiform body (Ref. 51442). Mouth extends only to area below rear of eye and has well developed teeth (Ref. 51442). Vomerine teeth weak (Ref. 7251). Caudal fin with 19 rays (Ref. 2196). Little scales (Ref. 51442). Adults are blue-green colored with a silvery coating and a few spots in salt water; no spots under lateral line (Ref. 37032, Ref. 51442). During reproduction period, in fresh water, it loses the silvery guanin coat and becomes greenish or reddish brown mottled with red or orange, certainly the males (Ref. 37032, Ref. 51442). Few black spots on body, caudal fin usually unspotted and adipose fin not black bordered. Juveniles have 8 to 12 blue-violet spots on the flanks with little red spots in-between (Ref. 51442). Also Ref. 3137.
Amphihaline species, spending most of its life in freshwater (Ref. 51442). Epipelagic (Ref. 58426) preferring cool temperature (Ref. 37032). Active during the day. Adults inhabit cooler waters with strong to moderate flow (Ref. 44894). Young remain in freshwater for 1 to 6 years, then migrate to the ocean where they remain for 1 to 4 years before returning to freshwater. Maturing individuals are found on the continental plate west of Greenland (Ref. 51442). Adults return to the river of their origin to spawn (Ref. 51442), then return to sea after spawning. Some die after spawning but most survive to spawn on the next spawning cycle. Juveniles feed mainly on aquatic insects (blackflies, stoneflies, caddisflies and chironomids (Ref. 5951)), mollusks, crustaceans and fish; adults at sea feed on squids, shrimps, and fish (Ref. 51442). Larger salmon feed on fishes such as herring, alewives, smelts, capelin, small mackerel, sand lance and small cod (Ref. 5951). Adults in freshwater which are approaching the reproductive stage do not feed (Ref. 30578, Ref. 51442). Growth in freshwater is slow whereas very rapid in the sea. Life history of the salmon can be read from the growth zones in the scales (Ref. 35388). Several lake populations are landlocked. Marketed fresh, dried or salted, smoked, and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, cooked in microwave, and baked (Ref. 9988).
