When the salmon fry are one year old, they are called parr. Parr have distinct stripes on their sides. The stripes are good camouflage in flowing river water. The parr usually lives one to four years in the river. There it hunts for food and good hiding places. The parr is a loner.

Young salmon between one and four years old are called parr. Salmon parr have eight to twelve distinct transverse stripes - known as parr marks - on the side of their body. It almost looks as if someone has held the fish's body tightly. Many people therefore call the stripes finger marks. The parr is a good swimmer and thrives best in flowing water. Parren therefore have long, strong pectoral fins. The finger marks provide good camouflage in the river.

Parr keep to themselves and compete with other parr for both food and good hiding places. Throughout the year, the parr find food in the river. As long as the river water is not too warm (above 24 degrees) or too cold (below 6 degrees), they grow. But it doesn't grow very fast. It can take four years for the parr to grow as long as a ballpoint pen, but in some places it takes less time.

As long as the parr marks are visible, the salmon is called a parr. When the stripes disappear, it is a sign that the parr will soon leave the river to go to the sea. When the salmon leave the river, they are called smolt.

Salmon parr in the Tana river system in summer 2022

Photo: Mikko Kytokorpi

>> Read about smolt