Q:
Why Do Salmon Swim Upstream?
A:
Quick Answer
Salmon return to rivers from the ocean and swim upstream to their original hatching place to lay and fertilize their eggs. Swimming upstream is hard work, and only the strongest complete the journey and spawn the next generation of salmon.
Continue ReadingKeep Learning
Credit:
Daniel J Cox
Photographer's Choice
Getty Images
Full Answer
Each species of salmon follows its own schedule of return to the birth stream for reproducing. Experts believe that an inborn sense of smell guides each species of salmon to its original hatching grounds. When the fish leave the salt water of the ocean and enter the fresh water of the stream, they stop eating. Spawning is the last thing salmon do before they die.
Learn more about FishRelated Questions
-
Q:
Do Salmon Have Scales?
A: Salmon do have scales, and the scales have concentric rings that can be counted to determine the age of the fish. Salmon scales and skin do not have to be ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Is a Young Salmon Called?
A: Salmon go through several stages in their life before they are considered adults. A salmon is called an alevin, a fry, a parr and a smolt before it is cons... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Is a Wild Atlantic Salmon?
A: The wild Atlantic salmon is a fish of the Salmonidae family, native to the northern Atlantic Ocean and rivers flowing into it. The juvenile salmon live in ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Do Suckerfish Eat?
A: Suckerfish typically eat algae and larvae found in the beds of rivers and lakes. They also eat crustaceans and different plant material. Full Answer >Filed Under:
