coho

fish
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/animal/coho
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Also known as: Oncorhynchus kisutch, silver salmon
Also called:
silver salmon
Related Topics:
Pacific salmon

coho, (Oncorhynchus kisutch), species of salmon, family Salmonidae, prized for food and sport. The coho may weigh up to 16 kg (35 pounds) and is recognized by the small spots on the back and upper tail-fin lobe. Young coho stay in fresh water for about one year before entering North Pacific waters; they mature in about three years. Some populations, called landlocked, spend their entire lives in suitable bodies of fresh water. Coho were transplanted into Lake Michigan, U.S., and Canada, as a game fish in the 1970s, with conspicuous success.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.