Chum salmon or dog salmon (Onrochynchus keta) is found from Alaska south to the Bay Area of California. However, it is rare south of Alaska. This is also found in Japan. From Japan it is found along the northern coast of Eurasia past Alaska. The trailing edge of the tail is slightly indented. During breeding season, the males show a reddish area along the side. Most examples are from 5 to 10 pounds, but a record exists for a 35 pound specimen. The length can be over 40 inches.

Oncorhynchus genus (salmon) contains fish that are commonly called both trout and salmon. This genus is represented by about ten species in North America. Many of the salmon species in this genus live in salt water and breed in fresh water. The trout in this genus generally are limited to fresh water. The Salmo, Salvelinus, and Oncorhynchus genera are closely related. Many of the species in these genera are easily recognizable by their color patterns.

Salmon Family, Salmonidae, is known for the trout and the salmon groups, both of which are considered good sport and table fish. Recently several hybrids have been introduced into the Great Lakes, especially Lake Michigan, with great success as a sport and commercial fish. Salmon and trout are primitive fish and lack bony spines in their fins.

Salmon Group, Order Salmoniformes, is found worldwide in oceans. It is also found in freshwater in many places in North America. A great number of the large game and sport fish are found in this order.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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