Description

Chinook Salmon is fish species from the Salmonidae Family, introduced in the 70s in the Chilean coasts as an investigation project based in Chiloé.

Now, year after year, Chinook Salmon come back to coasts and rivers to spawn which is also the moment when they die. When it turns adult, a Chinook Salmon can reach between 84 and 147cm long and weigh between 25 and 60kg.

Color

The Chinook Salmon’s characteristics are blue-greenish color on the top of its back and of its head, silver sides and a white abdomen. It also has black spots on the tail and on the top part of its body.

While reproducing, Chinook Salmons body changes as it becomes reddish in the extremities and even more on the spots. Moreover, its back goes up and its jaw bends so that the fish cannot close its mouth nor eat.

Diet

Chinook eat jellyfishes, starfishes, insects, amphipods and other crustaceans.

As other fishes from the same Family, adult Chinook diet also includes other fishes smaller than itself.

Environment

In Chile, Chinook Salmon live in rivers in the South part like the Petrohué or Hueño Huenño river where they come to spawn and die every season.