Salmoniformes

These fish are famous for their importance to ecosystems and people, their extraordinary life cycles, and impressive survival skills. Most salmon, for instance, are born in cool, freshwater streams, then migrate to the ocean to grow. When it’s time to breed, they make the long journey back—often hundreds or even thousands of miles—to the exact same stream where they were born. This round-trip migration, called anadromy, sets them apart from many other fish species and shows off their incredible sense of direction.

What really makes salmoniform fish special is how much they change during their lives. Salmon start their lives looking like tiny, camouflaged fry in rivers. As they grow and prepare for life in the ocean, their bodies transform dramatically: their colors shift, their organs adapt to saltwater, and they become sleek and silvery. Once they return to freshwater to spawn, they transform again. Some species turn bright red, others grow hooked jaws and sharp teeth. It’s like watching a superhero suit up for a final mission. Many salmon only spawn once in their lives and die shortly after, putting all their energy into producing the next generation. This “live fast, die after breeding” lifestyle is unusual, especially compared to their close relatives like trout, which can spawn more than once and live longer lives.

Trout and char, which are also part of the Salmoniformes family, don’t always follow the same path as salmon. Some live entirely in freshwater and stay in one place their whole lives. Others, like sea trout, migrate just like salmon. What makes them different is their appearance and behavior. Trout often have spots on their bodies and can live in a wide variety of environments, from tiny mountain streams to large lakes. Char prefer colder waters and often have lighter spots on darker skin, giving them a dramatic, almost glowing appearance.