anadromous fish

noun

UK /əˈnædrəməs fɪʃ/

US /əˈnædrəməs fɪʃ/

A fish that is born in fresh water, swims to the ocean to grow up, and comes back to fresh water to have babies.

Salmon are anadromous fish that swim up rivers to lay their eggs.

SYNONYMS

migratory fish diadromous fish river-spawning fish upstream-migrating fish

RELATED WORDS

salmon spawning estuary migration freshwater

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A fish that travels between salt water and fresh water during its life cycle.

Scientists tagged the anadromous fish to track its journey from sea to river.

3. Any fish species whose adults live in the sea but breed in freshwater streams.

The anadromous fish population dropped after the dam blocked the river.

4. A type of migratory fish important to river and ocean ecosystems.

Bears depend on anadromous fish as a seasonal food source.