The life cycle of a species of large fish called the salmon

The diagram illustrates the

life

cycle of the

salmon

, which is a large fish species. Overall,

salmon

have an average

life

span of nine years and their

life

cycle consists of four main stages: egg, fry, smolt and adult. While the

first

three stages occur in fresh water, the

last

one takes place in saline water. The

life

cycle begins when

salmon

eggs are laid among small stones at the base of reeds in the upper part of the river, where the current is slow. After approximately five to six months, which measures three to eight centimetres long can be seen in the water. The fry

then

swims to the lower, faster-flowing part of the river. After growing and feeding there for about four years they reach twelve to fifteen centimetres long and are considered smolts. They

then

head to the ocean where they mature into adult

salmon

which average seventy to seventy-six centimetres long. They spend around five years there, after which they migrate upstream to their birthplace to spawn, and the entire journey is repeated all over again.