Tasmanian smelt (Retropinna tasmanica)

Scientific name: Retropinna tasmanica McCulloch, 1920

The Tasmanian smelt (Retropinna tasmanica) is a freshwater fish of the family Retropinnidae. Native range: Oceania, Endemic to Tasmania.

Biology

Inhabits estuaries and the lower reaches of coastal streams. Occurs in lowland streams, forming schools that feeds at or near the surface on insects and zooplankton. Found among the annual Tasmanian whitebait migrations in shoals with Lovettia seali and various galaxiids. Most of the life cycle is spent at the sea. The species is thought to have an anadromous life cycle involving upstream migration of adults from the sea prior to spawning. Newly hatched larvae are carried on tides out to sea where they develop to maturity.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Retropinna tasmanica
Family
Retropinnidae (New Zealand smelts)
Order
Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
7.0
Common length
5.5
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Oceania: Endemic to Tasmania.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest; bait: usually
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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