Species catalogue

Smelt

Order Salmoniformes
Family Osmeridae

Euryhaline fish (marine and freshwater) with regularly ossified skeleton. Thin elongated body. Slightly flattened on the flanks. Mouth relatively large, with prominent lower jaw. The mouth contains long, sharp teeth. Small, transparent scales that separate easily. Little Smelts, in particular, are translucent. Its posterior part and the flanks are of a greenish-gray to pink tone, its ventral zone is of a brilliant silver color. The caudal fin has a dark border. The smelt lives up to six years. It measures 15 to 18 cm.

Characteristics
FAO code
SME
Specie
Osmerus eperlanus
Type
Blue fish
FAO Fishing Areas
  • Area 21: the Northwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean
  • Area 27: the Northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean
  • Area 5: Europe - Inland waters
International denominations
Germany Stint
France Eperlan d’Europe
Italy Sperlano
Portugal Eperlano
United Kingdom Smelt
Japan Kyurino
Fishing areas
Fishing arts
Trawls
Gillnets

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