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Pacific Salmon Trivia Quiz

I love salmon and hope you do too.

A multiple-choice quiz by chinook. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
chinook

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
17,765

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1963

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (3/10), Guest 172 (7/10), Guest 172 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

1. What is the largest species of Pacific Salmon? Hint

chinook

dog

silver

sockeye

NEXT>

2. This Pacific salmon, when it occurs in lakes, is known as a kokanee. Hint

sockeye

coho

king

jack

NEXT>

3. Occasionally sold as salmon, which fish comes in both summer and winter varieties, and has been introduced to the Great Lakes of the northeast US. Hint

steelhead

coho

chinook

pink

NEXT>

4. What is considered a threat to salmon populations in the northwest United States? Hint

dams

poor ocean conditions

pollution

all of these

NEXT>

5. Where do salmon spend the majority of their adult lives? Hint

the sea

in bays

in rivers

lakes

NEXT>

6. What species is the most commercially valuable salmon? Hint

chum

king

sockeye

silver

NEXT>

7. What do you call fish such as salmon that live in salt water and spawn in fresh? Hint

anaglumous

anadromous

migratory

pelagic

NEXT>

8. What do Pacific salmon eat once they've returned to fresh water to spawn? Hint

frogs

none of these

other fish

aquatic invertebrates

NEXT>

9. These two salmon appear very much alike, although one species is much smaller than the other. Sometimes called kings and silvers in the North, they are referred to as what in the south? Hint

pink and humpback

sockeye and coho

summer and winters

chinook and coho

NEXT>

10. Which of these does not die after spawning? Hint

chinook

steelhead

king

coho

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Most Recent Scores

May 23 2025 : Guest 136: 3/10
May 22 2025 : Guest 172: 7/10
May 08 2025 : Guest 172: 8/10
May 05 2025 : Guest 99: 5/10
Apr 27 2025 : Guest 50: 8/10
Apr 21 2025 : andymuenz: 6/10
Mar 31 2025 : Guest 174: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the largest species of Pacific Salmon?

Answer: chinook

The chinook, or king salmon, is the largest. Specimens over 100 pounds have been recorded.

2. This Pacific salmon, when it occurs in lakes, is known as a kokanee.

Answer: sockeye

Sockeye run up the rivers of Alaska in large numbers where they spawn, becoming prey for bears along the way.

3. Occasionally sold as salmon, which fish comes in both summer and winter varieties, and has been introduced to the Great Lakes of the northeast US.

Answer: steelhead

The steelhead is a member of the Salmonidae family, although it begins life as a rainbow trout. It is sometimes sold as steelhead salmon. It has been introduced as a sport fish into the Great Lakes and surrounding streams.

4. What is considered a threat to salmon populations in the northwest United States?

Answer: all of these

Few can agree on what is the greatest threat to salmon, but all of these are at the top of everyone's list.

5. Where do salmon spend the majority of their adult lives?

Answer: the sea

Salmon spend their adult lives at sea, migrating to fresh water only to spawn.

6. What species is the most commercially valuable salmon?

Answer: sockeye

The sockeye, because of superior table qualities and its ability to rebound from heavy fishing, is the most commercially valuable salmon species.

7. What do you call fish such as salmon that live in salt water and spawn in fresh?

Answer: anadromous

Fish that are born in, and return to fresh water to spawn, but live in the sea are referred to as 'anadromous'.

8. What do Pacific salmon eat once they've returned to fresh water to spawn?

Answer: none of these

Adult Pacific salmon stop feeding just before entering fresh water. They live off of fat reserves they have stored for the migration to their home river where they will spawn and die.

9. These two salmon appear very much alike, although one species is much smaller than the other. Sometimes called kings and silvers in the North, they are referred to as what in the south?

Answer: chinook and coho

In Alaska and Canada these fish are commonly called kings and silvers, however it is more common to hear them called chinook and coho in the lower forty-eight. When fresh from the ocean it can be difficult to tell these species apart, but after being in the fresh water they take on very different appearances.

10. Which of these does not die after spawning?

Answer: steelhead

Both steelhead and Atlantic salmon are capable of surviving the spawning run, but only steelhead are native to the Pacific region.

Source: Author chinook

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor guitargoddess before going online.
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