Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni) fish species and information / pictures of Australian smelt - Retropinna semoni

Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni) fish species information

Scientific Name
Retropinna semoni

Common Name
Australian smelt

Biology
Lives in streams, backwaters, lakes, swamps and estuaries. Occurs in brackish estuaries and inland salt lakes. Most common in slow-flowing streams and still waters, shoaling near the surface or around the cover of aquatic plants and woody debris. Forms large aggregations in open water (Ref. 44894). Feeds on aquatic insects, microcrustaceans and algae. Spawns throughout the Murray-Darling river system. Breeds between July and March (mostly in spring) (Ref. 44894). Spawning temperature is about 15 ?C. Newly hatched larvae measure 4.8 mm TL on the average. Eggs are laid among aquatic vegetation and hatch in about 10 days. Sexual maturity is attained by the end of the first year (Ref. 44894). Eaten fresh or canned.

Classification

Classified By

Weber, 1895

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Smelts (Osmeriformes)

Family

New Zealand smelts (Retropinnidae)

Distribution

Region

Oceania

Distribution

Oceania: Australia's east coast from the Fritzroy River southward to at least the Shoalhaven River; throughout most of the Murray-Darling river system; and in Lake Eyre inland drainage system near Longreach, Thompson River.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

10 °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

2.78999996185303 s.e. 0.29 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

10.0 cm

Common Length

6.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6406 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.31; tm=1; tmax=2)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated