North Atlantic: White Sea southward to western coasts of France including Baltic Sea, southern North Sea and British Isles; the Gironde estuary is the southern limit of his distribution. The former nominal subspecies Osmerus eperlanus eperlanus is recorded from the coasts and drainage of White and Barents Seas westward through Baltic Sea to Denmark and it is primarily lacustrine. The former subspecies Osmerus eperlanus schonfoldi (Rutty 1772) is sympatric with the nominate subspecies in parts of Poland, Denmark and the Baltic, and it is primarily anadromous.
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 16; Vertebrae: 55 - 62. Body long and slim. Head rather pointed. Snout pointed. Upper jaw reaching to hind margin of eye, lower jaw projecting a little. Teeth in lower jaw larger than those of upper, strong teeth on tongue and canines on vomer. Dorsal fin origin behind base of pelvic fins. Incomplete lateral line is developed near the head. Dorsal side light olive green, flanks silver stripe, belly creamy white.
A midwater species, rarely far from shore, primarily anadromous in the west and lacustrine in the east; shoaling at least during spawning season. The essential part of his life is spend in the estuarine zone, with just short incursions in the littoral zone. The migratory form is grouping together in the estuarine zone for reproduction. It enters the rivers for spawning on sandy or gravely bottoms. Reproduction takes place between February and May, depending on the water-temperature. It produces 8,000-50,000 yellow eggs with a diameter of 0.6-0.9 mm which adhere to the bottom. They hatch in 3-5 weeks and the larvae descend to the estuarine zone. It feeds on shrimps and small crustaceans; larger individuals feed on small fish. They become sexually mature in 3-4 years (15-18 cm) in brackish populations, 1-2 years (8-10 cm) in freshwater. Utilized as foodfish, smoked, as bait and fish oil (Ref. 35388). Smells like cucumber
Common names:
Common name/ Language/ Country
Europæisk smelt Danish -
Europæisk smelt Danish Denmark
Smelt Danish -
Smelt Danish Denmark
Stint Danish Denmark
Stinte Danish Denmark
Spiering Dutch -
Spiering Dutch Netherlands
European smelt English -
European smelt English Russian Fed
European smelt English UK
European smelt English USA
Sea smelt English Russian Fed
Smelt English -
Smelt English Estonia
Smelt English UK
Smelt English USA
Sparling English -
Sparling English Estonia
Sparling English Russian Fed
Sparling English UK
Sparling English USA
Meritint Estonian Estonia
Kuore Finnish Finland
Concombre French France
Éperlan French -
Éperlan French France
Éperlan d'Europe French -
Éperlan européen French France
Trogue French France
Cualarach Gaelic, Irish Ireland
Binnenstint German -
Binnenstint German Germany
Heilstindt German Germany
Heilstint German -
Heilstint German Germany
Seestint German -
Seestint German Germany
Spierling German -
Stindt German Germany
Stint German -
Stint German Germany
Wanderstint German -
Silfurloona Icelandic Iceland
Eperlano Italian -
Eperlano Italian Italy
Sperlano Italian -
Sperlano Italian Italy
Kyûrino Japanese Japan
salaka Latvian Latvia
stinta Lithuanian Lithuania
胡瓜魚 Mandarin Chinese China Main
胡瓜鱼 Mandarin Chinese China Main
Krøkle Norwegian Norway
Stynka Polish Poland
Eperlano Portuguese Portugal
Eperlano europeu Portuguese -
Eperlano-europeu Portuguese Portugal
Malkis Prussian, Old Germany
Eperlan Rumanian Romania
европейская корюшка Russian Russian Fed
корюшка европейская Russian Russian Fed
Korjushka Russian Latvia
Koryushka Russian Russian Fed
Koryushka obyknovennaya Russian Russian Fed
Morskaya koryushka Russian Russian Fed
Gavun Serbian Serbia
Zelenis Serbian Serbia
Eperlán Spanish -
Eperlano Spanish -
Eperlano Spanish Spain
Eperlano europeo Spanish Spain
Eperlános Spanish Spain
Eperlon Spanish Spain
Nors Swedish Sweden
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Family : Osmeridae