Chinook Salmon
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Name and Code
Family
Salmonidae - trouts and salmons
Species
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Taxonomic Authority
(Walbaum 1792)
Common Name(s)
Chinook Salmon
French Name
saumon chinook
Species Code
075
Family TSN
161931
Parent TSN
161974
Species TSN
161980
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2017-12-28)
National Rank (NRank)
N4N5B, N5N, N5M (2017-12-28)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA (2011-05-06)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
introduced
General Abundance
common
Tolerance
intolerant
Economic Importance
sport fish
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-4.82
Slope (b)
2.93
Length Basis
FL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; marine1
Environment
pelagic
Trophic Class
invertivore/carnivore
Thermal Regime
coldwater
Habitat Preference
mid-waters (15-60 m) in or below the thermocline; preferred water temperature range 12-16°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Brood hiders: Lithophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
riverine
Spawning Season
fall
Spawning Month(s)
September-October
Spawning Temperature (°C)
5.5-14.5
Fecundity
2,250-13,619
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine; marine1
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
50.8-88.9 FL
Adult Weight (kg)
1.3-6.6
Age at Maturity (yrs)
4-5
Maximum Length (cm)
160 FL
Maximum Weight (kg)
61.4
Lifespan (yrs)
4-5
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
119.4 TL
Record Weight (kg)
21.04
Ontario Range Map
Chinook Salmon range
Ontario Distribution
Great Lakes and tributaries (intentionally introduced), St. Lawrence River
Photographs
Chinook Salmon photograph
Chinook Salmon photograph
Notes
(1) anadromous life-strategy within native range; indigenous to Pacific coast; adults semelparous; hybrids with Pink Salmon known as "pinook salmon"
Information Sources
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