Australian smelt
📖 Overview
Lives in streams, backwaters, lakes, swamps and estuaries. Occurs in brackish estuaries and inland salt lakes. Most common in slow-flowing streams and still waters, shoaling near the surface or around the cover of aquatic plants and woody debris. Forms large aggregations in open water . Feeds on aquatic insects, microcrustaceans and algae. Spawns throughout the Murray-Darling river system. Breeds between July and March (mostly in spring) . Spawning temperature is about 15 °C. Newly hatched larvae measure 4.8 mm TL on the average. Eggs are laid among aquatic vegetation and hatch in about 10 days. Sexual maturity is attained by the end of the first year . Eaten fresh or canned.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Physical description for Australian smelt is currently being compiled.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Australian smelt is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; pelagic; potamodromous . Temperate; 10°C - 25°C east coast from the Fritzroy River southward to at least the Shoalhaven River; throughout most of the Murray-Darling river system; and in Lake Eyre inland drainage system near Longreach, Thompson River.
🌿 Ecology
aquatic insects, microcrustaceans and algae
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Australian smelt is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Australian smelt is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Australian smelt has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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