The diagrams below show the life cycle of a species of large fish called the salmon.

Salmon

begin life as eggs on a pebbly riverbed, hidden among reeds in the slow-moving upper reaches of a river. After five to six months the eggs hatch into 'fry For approximately the

next

four years, these baby

salmon

will live in the lower faster-flowing waters of their river. During

this

time they measure between three and eight centimetres in length. By the time

salmon

reach twelve to fifteen centimetres, they are termed 'smolt', and at

this

time they migrate

further

downriver into the open sea. After five years at ,sea the

salmon

will have grown to adult size, which is between seventy and seventy-six centimetres. They

then

begin swimming back to their birthplace, where they will lay their eggs, and the cycle starts anew. In summary,

the

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salmon

passes through three distinct physical stages as it grows to maturity. Each of these stages takes place in a very different aquatic location. It is noteworthy that the first two stages of

this

fish's life occur in a freshwater environment,

while

the

third

stage is lived in saltwater.