🌿Native Nature

Sockeye Salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Actinopterygii ›Order: Salmoniformes ›Family: Salmonidae ›Genus: Oncorhynchus

About

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), also called red salmon, kokanee salmon, or blueback salmon, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Northern Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it. This species is a Pacific salmon that is primarily red in hue during spawning. They can grow up to 84 cm (2 ft 9 in) in length and weigh 2.3 to 7 kg (5.1–15.4 lb). Juveniles remain in freshwater until they are ready to migrate to the ocean, over distances of up...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Sockeye Salmon?
The scientific name of Sockeye Salmon is Oncorhynchus nerka.
What is the conservation status of Sockeye Salmon?
The Sockeye Salmon has a conservation status of Least Concern.
What kingdom does Sockeye Salmon belong to?
Sockeye Salmon belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Sockeye Salmon belong to?
Sockeye Salmon belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Sockeye Salmon belong to?
Sockeye Salmon belongs to the class Actinopterygii.
What order does Sockeye Salmon belong to?
Sockeye Salmon belongs to the order Salmoniformes.
What family does Sockeye Salmon belong to?
Sockeye Salmon belongs to the family Salmonidae.
What genus does Sockeye Salmon belong to?
Sockeye Salmon belongs to the genus Oncorhynchus.

In the News

Fat Bear Week opens for Alaska’s heavyweight crown. Can Chunk, the 1,200-pound champ, win again?

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — After a summer spent packing away sockeye salmon, Alaska’s heftiest brown bears are ready to throw their weight around. Online voting began Tuesday for Fat Bear Week, the annual contest that pits the rotund residents of Katmai National Park and Preserve against each other for the title of most oversized ursine. […]

Mongabay · 9/22/2026

First Nations lead the return of salmon to Canada’s Upper Columbia River

INVERMERE, Canada — Mark Thomas, Shuswap Band salmon chief, welcomes groups of students to a narrow stretch of the Columbia River, between the Rocky and Purcell mountains in western Canada. It’s late May, and snow still graces the distant peaks. For the past five months, students from schools nearby towns have raised sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus […]

Mongabay · 7/29/2026