Allosmerus elongatus (Ayres, 1854)
Whitebait smelt
Allosmerus elongatus
photo by Fritzsche, R.A./J.W. Cavanagh

Family:  Osmeridae (Smelts)
Max. size:  22.9 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 103 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Vancouver Island, Canada to San Francisco, California, USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-17; Vertebrae: 65-67. Adipose fin small, directed backward (Ref. 6885). Color pale greenish, almost colorless, a sharply marked silvery stripe along side (Ref. 6885).
Biology:  Occurs in coastal waters (Ref. 2850). Abundant in bays (Ref. 2850). Forms schools (Ref. 2850). Important food for larger fishes (Ref. 2850). Spawns in subtidal banks (Ref. 2850).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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