Atlantic salmon
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Salmonidae. It is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the North Atlantic and, due to human introduction, the North Pacific.
Pronunciation
- UK: /ˈsæmən/
- US: /ˈsæmən/
Etymology
The term "salmon" comes from the Latin word salmo, which in turn may have originated from salire, meaning "to leap". The specific name salar is Latin for "leaper", in reference to the species' migratory behavior.
Description
Atlantic salmon are silver-blue with a slightly darker back. They have a streamlined body with a large mouth and sharp, pointed teeth. The average length of an adult Atlantic salmon is 71-76 cm.
Life Cycle
Atlantic salmon have a complex life cycle that begins with spawning and incubation in rivers. After emerging from their eggs, the young salmon (known as alevins) remain in the river for up to three years before undergoing smoltification, a physiological transformation allowing them to survive in saltwater. They then migrate to the ocean, where they grow rapidly. After one to four years in the ocean, the adult salmon return to their natal river to spawn, completing the cycle.
Conservation Status
Atlantic salmon are listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List, but their populations have been declining due to overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change.
Related Terms
- Salmonidae: The family of ray-finned fish that includes salmon, trout, chars, graylings, and whitefish.
- Alevin: The first stage of life for a salmon after it hatches from an egg.
- Smoltification: The physiological changes that a juvenile salmon undergoes to prepare for life in saltwater.
- IUCN Red List: The world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Atlantic salmon
- Wikipedia's article - Atlantic salmon
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