European smelt

📖 Overview

Inhabits marine waters, estuaries and large lakes . A midwater species, rarely far from shore, primarily anadromous in the west and lacustrine in the east; shoaling at least during spawning season . The essential part of its life is spend in the estuarine zone, with just short incursions in the littoral zone . The migratory form is grouping together in the estuarine zone for reproduction . Enters the rivers for spawning on sandy or gravely bottoms . Spawns in tributaries of lakes or along shallow shores of lakes and rivers on sand, gravel, stones and plant material, preferably in fast-flowing water . Reproduction takes place between February and May, depending on the water-temperature . Produces 8,000-50,000 yellow eggs with a diameter of 0.6-0.9 mm which adhere to the bottom. Eggs hatch in 3-5 weeks and the larvae descend to the estuarine zone. Feeds on shrimps and small crustaceans; larger individuals feed on small fish. Utilized as foodfish, smoked, as bait and fish oil . Smells like cucumber . Locally threatened due to pollution and barriers to migration .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 16; Vertebrae: 55 - 62. Body long and slim . Head rather pointed . Snout pointed . Upper jaw reaching to hind margin of eye, lower jaw projecting a little. Teeth in lower jaw larger than those of upper, strong teeth on tongue and canines on vomer . Dorsal fin origin behind base of pelvic fins . Incomplete lateral line is developed near the head . Dorsal side light olive green, flanks silver stripe, belly creamy white .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for European smelt is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

European smelt are opportunistic hunters that feed on copepods and cladocerans. As the fish grow, they change their diet from small zooplankton to larger crustaceans, and in rare cases will eat other fish, sometimes of their own species. They also consume the young of vendace.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawns in lower reaches of streams, deeper parts of lake in sand bottoms . Spawning takes place with the melting of snow . Many individuals die after the spawning . Migratory form generally with rapid growth, more eggs, live longer; individuals feeding on fish grow bigger . ). Becomes sexually mature in 3-4 years (15-18 cm) in brackish populations, 1-2 years (8-10 cm) in freshwater.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous ; depth range 2 - 25 m , usually ? - 50 m . Temperate; 70°N - 43°N, 9°W - 55°E North Atlantic: White Sea southward to western coasts of France including Baltic Sea, southern North Sea and British Isles (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"European smelt is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for European smelt has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 75 records indexed .

👥 Community & Contribute