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The seven species commonly called Pacific salmon are Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, pink, masu and amago. Five occur in North American waters, while masu and amago are Asian species; Atlantic salmon belong to a separate group, and steelhead is a trout rather than an eighth salmon species.
All seven are united by their place in the Pacific-salmon grouping, but they are not interchangeable. They differ in geography, maximum size, appearance and the way their bodies change between the ocean and spawning streams. The comparisons below use official U.S. and Canadian references and distinguish verified facts from details the cited sources do not provide.
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What are the seven species of Pacific salmon?
The seven-species count is a geographic and taxonomic description of Pacific salmon, not a claim that all seven swim in the same rivers. The U.S. Geological Survey identifies seven Pacific salmon species: five native to North American waters and two found only in Asia.
| Species | Scientific name | Geography | Verified size or defining fact | Marine-phase identification note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook (king) | Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | North American Pacific waters | Largest maximum in the USGS comparison: up to 58 in (1.5 m) and 126 lb (57.2 kg) | Back and both tail lobes spotted; black mouth and gumline |
| Coho (silver) | Oncorhynchus kisutch | North American Pacific waters | North American species; no size figure supplied in the cited sources | Back and upper tail spotted; black mouth, white gumline |
| Chum (dog) | Oncorhynchus keta | North American Pacific waters | North American species; no size figure supplied in the cited sources | No spots; body bands; white mouth and gumline |
| Sockeye (red) | Oncorhynchus nerka | North American Pacific waters | North American species; no size figure supplied in the cited sources | No distinct back or tail spots; white mouth and gumline |
| Pink (humpback) | Oncorhynchus gorbuscha | North American Pacific waters | Smallest maximum in the USGS comparison: up to 30 in (0.8 m) and 12 lb (5.4 kg); fixed two-year lifespan | Large oval spots on back and both tail lobes; white mouth, black gumline |
| Masu | Oncorhynchus masou | Asia only, according to USGS | The cited sources do not provide a comparable maximum-size figure here | Not included on the five-species USFWS marine chart |
| Amago | Scientific name not specified in the cited sources | Asia only, according to USGS | The cited sources do not provide a comparable maximum-size figure here | Not included on the five-species USFWS marine chart |
The size figures in the table are source-reported maxima, not average adult weights. The USGS comparison supports the conclusion that Chinook has the greatest listed maximum and pink the smallest; it does not mean every Chinook approaches 126 pounds or every pink reaches 12 pounds.
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How does the Pacific salmon life cycle work?
Pacific salmon generally begin life in freshwater, move through estuaries to the sea, grow in the ocean and return as adults to freshwater to spawn. NOAA Fisheries describes the sequence as birth in streams and rivers, migration to coastal estuaries, ocean maturation and an adult return to natal streams.
- Freshwater birth and early growth: Eggs hatch in a stream or river, and young salmon spend an initial period in freshwater.
- Estuary transition: Juveniles move toward coastal estuaries, where freshwater and saltwater meet, before entering the ocean.
- Ocean growth: The marine phase is when salmon mature and develop the appearance used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identification chart.
- Adult return: Mature fish migrate back into freshwater, usually toward the stream where they were born, to reproduce.
“Usually” matters. The life-cycle description is a broad pattern for Pacific salmon, not a promise that every individual follows an identical route or timing. Local runs and species can differ, and the cited sources do not supply a single schedule that applies to all seven species.
How can you identify the five North American species?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service marine-phase chart gives a practical comparison for Chinook, coho, sockeye, pink and chum. It relies mainly on spots, mouth and gumline color, and body bands, but it is not a universal key: it covers only five species and only their marine appearance.
| Species | Spot or body pattern | Mouth and gumline | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook | Spots on the back and both tail lobes | Black mouth and black gumline | Both tail lobes are spotted |
| Coho | Spots on the back and upper tail | Black mouth with white gumline | Spots do not extend across both tail lobes as in the chart’s Chinook and pink examples |
| Sockeye | No distinct spots on the back or tail | White mouth and white gumline | Clean-looking back and tail compared with spotted species |
| Pink | Large oval spots on the back and both tail lobes | White mouth with black gumline | Large oval spotting plus a contrasting mouth/gumline combination |
| Chum | No spots; body bands | White mouth and white gumline | Banded body rather than a spotted back or tail |
Use the clues together rather than relying on one mark. For example, a spotted tail alone does not settle the identification: the number and placement of spots and the mouth and gumline colors provide the stronger combination in the chart.
What distinguishes each Pacific salmon species?
The safest comparison is to separate what the official sources establish for each species from details they do not establish. Common names can help, but they are not substitutes for a life-stage-appropriate identification.
Chinook salmon (king salmon)
Chinook is the largest Pacific salmon in the USGS maximum-size comparison, reaching up to 58 inches (1.5 meters) and 126 pounds (57.2 kilograms). Those numbers are upper limits reported by the USGS, not a typical size or a target that an angler should expect.
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In the USFWS marine chart, Chinook has spots on both the back and both tail lobes. Its mouth and gumline are black. The combination of the largest cited maximum and spotting on both tail lobes helps distinguish it from coho, whose chart entry places spots on the back and upper tail.
Coho salmon (silver salmon)
Coho is one of the five Pacific salmon species present in North American waters. The marine chart shows spots on the back and upper tail, a black mouth and a white gumline.
That mouth-and-gumline combination is especially useful when comparing coho with Chinook: both have black mouths in the chart, but Chinook’s gumline is black while coho’s is white. The cited sources do not provide a coho maximum length or weight in this research, so a numerical size comparison would go beyond the evidence.
Chum salmon (dog salmon)
Chum is another North American Pacific salmon. In its marine-phase entry, it has no spots and instead shows body bands, with a white mouth and white gumline.
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Sockeye salmon (red salmon)
Sockeye occurs in North American waters and is listed in the marine chart without distinct spots on the back or tail. Its mouth and gumline are white.
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That makes sockeye visually different from the spotted Chinook, coho and pink entries. It can still be confused with chum if a photograph does not show the body clearly, because both entries use a white mouth and gumline; chum’s body bands are the additional clue in the chart.
Pink salmon (humpback salmon)
Pink is the smallest species in the USGS maximum-size comparison, with a reported maximum of 30 inches (0.8 meters) and 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms). Fisheries and Oceans Canada gives pink salmon a fixed two-year lifespan, a distinctive schedule among the species discussed here.
The “humpback” name refers to the hump that returning males develop. In the marine-phase chart, pink salmon has large oval spots on the back and both tail lobes, a white mouth and a black gumline. The large oval spots and mouth pattern separate it from Chinook, even though both have spots on both tail lobes.
Masu salmon
Masu (Oncorhynchus masou) is one of the two species in the seven-species count that the USGS places only in Asia. The cited references establish its membership in the Pacific-salmon group and its Asian distribution, but they do not provide a comparable maximum size or a marine identification profile in this research.
For that reason, do not extend the five-species USFWS chart to masu. A photograph, local guide or regional fisheries reference would be needed for a positive identification.
Amago salmon
Amago is the other Asia-only species in the USGS seven-species count. The sources reviewed here do not specify its scientific name, maximum size or detailed appearance.
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That limitation is important: assigning a scientific name or describing amago from memory could create a false parallel with the better-documented North American five. For an Asian fish, use a source that covers the local species and life stage rather than assuming the North American chart applies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why do salmon look different in freshwater?
Salmon change physically when they leave the ocean and enter freshwater to spawn. The USFWS warns that the marine identification chart is not sufficient at every life stage, because spawning coloration and body form can differ from the appearance shown in a marine-phase comparison.
In practice, identify the setting before relying on a clue:
- Ocean or coastal water: the five-species marine chart is the most directly relevant of the cited tools.
- River or spawning stream: expect color and body changes, and use a life-stage-specific regional key.
- Masu or amago: the North American chart does not cover them, regardless of whether the fish is in saltwater or freshwater.
The agency also places responsibility for positive identification on anglers at any life stage. If a legal catch, conservation decision or scientific record depends on the answer, treat a quick visual guess as insufficient and consult the applicable regional authority.
What does “seven Pacific salmon” exclude?
The number seven does not include Atlantic salmon. There is one Atlantic salmon species, while the seven-species statement refers to Pacific salmon.
It also does not make steelhead an eighth salmon species. NOAA discusses Pacific salmon and steelhead together, but identifies steelhead separately; steelhead is a trout. Keeping that distinction prevents a common error in otherwise accurate species lists.
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What is the most reliable way to use this information?
Start with geography and life stage, then apply multiple physical clues. This short checklist keeps the scope of the official references clear:
- Ask where the fish was found. In North American waters, the five species covered by the USFWS chart are the relevant Pacific-salmon set; masu and amago are Asia-only in the USGS summary.
- Determine whether it is in marine or freshwater phase. The chart is explicitly for marine appearance, and freshwater spawning changes can make its clues unreliable.
- Compare the whole pattern. Check spot placement, body bands, mouth color and gumline color together.
- Use size carefully. The Chinook and pink figures are maxima, not average weights or guaranteed field marks.
- Escalate uncertain cases. For legal or scientific identification, use a regional, life-stage-specific reference and follow local authority guidance.
The central takeaway is simple: seven Pacific salmon species exist as a group, but the practical identification problem is local and stage-dependent. Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye and pink can be compared with the official marine chart; masu and amago require Asian references; and no single photograph or size estimate should be treated as conclusive on its own.
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Are all seven Pacific salmon species found in North America?
No. The USGS grouping includes five species in North American waters and places masu and amago in Asia. A North American field chart therefore cannot be assumed to cover every species in the seven-species count.
What does “marine phase” mean on a salmon identification chart?
It means the fish is being identified by its ocean or near-coastal appearance, before the physical changes associated with spawning freshwater entry. The USFWS chart is specifically labeled for this phase, so a river photograph may require a different key.
Why is pink salmon called humpback salmon?
Returning pink males develop a pronounced hump, which gives the species its common nickname. The nickname describes a spawning-form feature, while the marine chart identifies pinks by large oval spots and mouth-and-gumline coloring.
Does the cited research provide a scientific name for amago?
No. The reviewed sources identify amago as an Asia-only member of the seven Pacific salmon species but do not specify a scientific name or detailed biology. Use a current regional taxonomic source before labeling an Asian specimen.
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