Oncorhynchus masou

Masu salmon, whose Latin name is Oncorhynchus masou, is the southernmost migratory species of the genus Oncorhynchus in my country, with a southern limit of 35 degrees north latitude. It has a high adaptability to temperature and is one of the inland domestication targets.

The Masu salmon is a migratory fish that breeds in freshwater rivers, grows in the ocean, and returns to freshwater to spawn when it reaches sexual maturity. Because it likes to live in low-temperature water, it is a cold-water fish.

2-year-old males and 3-year-old females mature. In the Tumen River, swimming fish gather in groups at the river mouth in March and April every year and begin to swim upstream. In April and May, they enter the Tumen River in large numbers. When floods are discharged in August and September, mature individuals swim upstream to tributaries to spawn. The spawning ground has clear water, gravel bottom, water depth of about 0.5 meters, average flow rate of 0.7 meters per second, and water temperature of 11-20℃. The eggs are reddish orange and carry about 3,500 eggs.

During spawning, usually one male fish chases several female fish into the spawning ground. The female fish swings its tail fins and uses the water flow to dig gravel around to form an elliptical spawning bed. The female fish ovulates several times, and the fertilized eggs fall into the spawning bed and are covered by the female fish using her tail fin to dig gravel. The broodstock that has laid eggs guards beside them. After 2-3 days, all the broodstock die. Generally, after living in fresh water for 1 year, the young fish begin to separate into swimming type and land-locked type.

Listed in the second level of the "List of National Key Protected Wildlife in China".

Protect wild animals and eliminate game.

Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!

In China, it is distributed in Suifen River and Tumen River. Abroad, it is distributed in Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
The distribution of salmon in the ocean is mainly in the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The Sea of ​​Japan is the main place for wintering and spring feeding and growth, while the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is mainly the place for summering during the high water temperature period.

There is no bulge behind the male's head. In the reproductive season, the tip of the male's snout is protruding and hooked, and the collar teeth become stronger and blacker.
There are landlocked and swimming types. The landlocked type likes to live in groups in cold water. The individuals are smaller and have larger eyes. There are 8-10 purple-black horizontal spots on the sides of the body that exist for life. There are purple-black round spots distributed on the back and above the lateral line, and no red spots.