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Smolts
Smoltification |
As salmon enter the smolt phase, the
transformation of the freshwater fish
to the saltwater fish begins. Tails
become longer and more deeply forked,
bodies more muscular and scaly and
colour more uniform and silvery. Many
stay for months in bays or estuaries,
acclimatizing to the saltier water
and feeding voraciously. Many are
themselves eaten by birds, seals,
bears and other larger predators only
about 30% of smolts survive to migrate
into the ocean. |
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