oncorhynchus gorbuscha

3 definitions found

oncorhynchus gorbuscha - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Salmon \Salm"on\ (s[a^]m"[u^]n), n.; pl. Salmons (-[u^]nz) or
     (collectively) Salmon. [OE. saumoun, salmon, F. saumon, fr.
     L. salmo, salmonis, perhaps from salire to leap. Cf. Sally,
     v.]
     1. (Zool.) Any one of several species of fishes of the genus
        Salmo and allied genera. The common salmon (Salmo  salar
        ) of Northern Europe and Eastern North America, and
        the California salmon, or quinnat, are the most important
        species. They are extensively preserved for food. See
        Quinnat.
        [1913 Webster]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The salmons ascend rivers and penetrate to their head
           streams to spawn. They are remarkably strong fishes,
           and will even leap over considerable falls which lie in
           the way of their progress. The common salmon has been
           known to grow to the weight of seventy-five pounds;
           more generally it is from fifteen to twenty-five
           pounds. Young salmon are called parr, peal, smolt, and
           grilse. Among the true salmons are:
  
     Black salmon, or Lake salmon, the namaycush.
  
     Dog salmon, a salmon of Western North America
        (Oncorhynchus keta).
  
     Humpbacked salmon, a Pacific-coast salmon (Oncorhynchus  gorbuscha
        ).
  
     King salmon, the quinnat.
  
     Landlocked salmon, a variety of the common salmon (var.
        Sebago), long confined in certain lakes in consequence of
        obstructions that prevented it from returning to the sea.
        This last is called also dwarf salmon.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Among fishes of other families which are locally and
           erroneously called salmon are: the pike perch, called
           jack salmon; the spotted, or southern, squeteague;
           the cabrilla, called kelp salmon; young pollock,
           called sea salmon; and the California yellowtail.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A reddish yellow or orange color, like the flesh of the
        salmon.
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     Salmon berry (Bot.), a large red raspberry growing from
        Alaska to California, the fruit of the Rubus Nutkanus.
        
  
     Salmon killer (Zool.), a stickleback (Gasterosteus  cataphractus
        ) of Western North America and Northern Asia.
        
  
     Salmon ladder, Salmon stair. See Fish ladder, under
        Fish.
  
     Salmon peel, a young salmon.
  
     Salmon pipe, a certain device for catching salmon. --Crabb.
  
     Salmon trout. (Zool.)
        (a) The European sea trout (Salmo trutta). It resembles
            the salmon, but is smaller, and has smaller and more
            numerous scales.
        (b) The American namaycush.
        (c) A name that is also applied locally to the adult black
            spotted trout (Salmo purpuratus), and to the steel
            head and other large trout of the Pacific coast.
            [1913 Webster]

  Humpback \Hump"back`\, n. [Cf. Hunchback.]
     1. A crooked back; a humped back. --Tatler.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A humpbacked person; a hunchback.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Zool.)
        (a) Any whale of the genus Megaptera, characterized by a
            hump or bunch on the back. Several species are known.
            The most common ones in the North Atlantic are
            Megaptera longimana of Europe, and Megaptera  osphyia
             of America; that of the California coasts is
            Megaptera versabilis.
        (b) A small salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), of the
            northwest coast of America; the humpbacked salmon.
            [1913 Webster]

  Humpbacked salmon \Hump"backed` salm"on\
     A small salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) which ascends the
     rivers of the Pacific coast from California to Alaska, and
     also on the Asiatic side. In the breeding season the male has
     a large dorsal hump and distorted jaws.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]