Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus)

Scientific name: Hypomesus pretiosus Girard, 1854

Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus)

The Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Osmeridae.

Biology

Individuals 3.5 cm may ascend rivers, presumably returning to the sea shortly after. Presumably young move offshore and reappear inshore as mature adults. At sea, they feed on small crustaceans, worms and jellyfish, as well as larval fishes. Females reach age 3, males age 2. Oviparous, with demersal eggs and planktonic larvae. Eggs are laid on beaches with heavy surf action.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Hypomesus pretiosus
Family
Osmeridae (Smelts)
Order
Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
30.5
Common length
15.0
Environment
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Prince William Sound, Gulf of Alaska to Long Beach, southern California, USA. Reports from the western Pacific are misidentifications of Hypomesus japonicus.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Sources

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

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