• adipose fin is present
• adipose fin is uniformly pigmented
• the anal fin and the dorsal fin may have a white leading edge followed by a black stripe
• anal fin is dramatically sickle shaped
• the length of the base of the anal fin is greater than the length of the base of the dorsal fin
• parr marks are present
• parr marks are dark coloured over lighter coloured side of fish (dark on light background)
• parr mark height is greater than the vertical diameter of the eye
• parr marks are positioned fairly irregularly along the lateral line and the spaces between the parr marks (width) is less than the width of the parr marks themselves
• caudal (tail), anal and adipose fins may have a pale orange colouring, but colouring is not always present.

Known distribution in Yukon: Alsek-Tatshenshini River system and the Porcupine River system.

Other notable comments and clues:

• Can be easily mistaken or confused with juvenile chinook.
• The most distinguishing feature is its sickle shaped anal fin, with its white leading edge followed with black colouration.
• Parr marks can be narrower than parr on chinook salmon and wider apart.
• Sometimes the only way to tell coho from chinook is by counting the number of pyloric ceacae, and this requires that samplers sacrifice fish (it’s mortal to fish).