March Video of the Month - salmon alevin

Last week the Young Explorers that attended our fish themed day camp had the opportunity to study Atlantic salmon eggs and alevins using the microscopes.

When the salmon first hatches from the egg it is called an alevin.  The yolk sac remains attached to the alevin while it continues to develop.  In the wild the alevin would stay in the gravel where it hatched until the yolk sac is absorbed.  Once the yolk sac is absorbed the salmon is than in the fry stage and swims out of the gravel into the stream or river. For more information on the life cycle of Atlantic salmon visit the Atlantic Salmon Federation website.

In this video the vein on the yolk sac is visible. Also, note the alevin moving its mouth and taking water in over its gills.