Shad & Herring
Rainbow Smelt
Osmerus mordax
BothOsmeridaeLeast Concern
About
Rainbow smelt are small, slender fish characterized by their silvery, iridescent body and distinct smelt odor. They are anadromous, migrating from saltwater to freshwater to spawn, typically in the spring.
- Average size
- 7-9 inches
- Colors
- Silvery sides, iridescent sheen, darker back, translucent fins
- Diet
- Plankton, crustaceans, insect larvae, small fish
- Region
- Northeastern United States, Great Lakes region, and coastal areas of the North Atlantic