Longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys)

Scientific name: Spirinchus thaleichthys Ayres, 1860

Longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys)

The Longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) is a freshwater fish of the family Osmeridae. Native range: North Pacific, Prince William Sound, Alaska to Monterey Bay, California, USA. Landlocked in Washington and Union Lakes in Washington, USA.

Biology

Found close to shore, in bays and estuaries and ascends coastal streams to spawn. There are landlocked populations but these do not reach as great a size as sea-run fish. Individuals found in brackish and salt water feed on small crustaceans. Fish from the sea are reported to have good flavor, but supply is limited. Often abundant during the spawning run, but flesh reported to be soft and oily, easily spoiling.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Spirinchus thaleichthys
Family
Osmeridae (Smelts)
Order
Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
20.0
Common length
15.0
Depth range
137 m (449 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; anadromous; depth range ? - 137 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
North Pacific: Prince William Sound, Alaska to Monterey Bay, California, USA. Landlocked in Washington and Union Lakes in Washington, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; tmax=3; K=0.43; Fec=535)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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