Smelt

Smelt is a common name for a group of small fish that belong to the family Osmeridae.
There are different species of smelt, and they have different habitats depending on their life cycle and distribution.
Some smelt species are marine fishes, meaning they live in the sea.
Others are freshwater fishes, meaning they live in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.
Some smelt species are anadromous, meaning they live in the sea but migrate to freshwater to spawn (reproduce).
For example, the rainbow smelt is an anadromous fish that lives in the coastal waters of North America, native range extends through the Atlantic drainages between New Jersey and Labrador to Arctic drainages, and the Pacific drainages.
It migrates to freshwater rivers and streams in the spring to spawn.
Smelt fishes have a wide variety of habitats, depending on their species and life cycle.
They are mostly found in cold or temperate regions, and play an important role in the food web of their ecosystems.

The smelt is a small fish that belongs to the family Osmeridae, which is closely related to salmon and trout.

Smelts have a silvery, shiny appearance and a slender body.

They also have a small, fleshy fin near their tail, called an adipose fin, which is similar to trout.

Smelts can vary in size, but most species are less than 20 centimeters (8 inches) long.

Some females of the European smelt can reach up to 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) in length.

Smelts are carnivorous fish that feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, and insects.

They live in cold northern waters, mostly in the coastal areas of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Some smelts are anadromous, which means they migrate from the sea to fresh water to spawn.

They usually spawn in the spring, in the surf, in streams, or in ponds.

Their eggs are sticky and attach to the sand or other objects.

Smelts are not very popular among anglers or commercial fishermen, but they are sometimes caught for food or sport.

They are often fried and eaten whole, or used as bait for larger fish.

Smelts are also an important food source for many other animals, such as birds, seals, and bears.