Animal Species:Australian Smelt, Retropinna semoni (Weber, 1895)

The Australian Smelt is a small Australian freshwater species that is most common in slow flowing streams.

An Australian Smelt, caught in Maguires Creek

An Australian Smelt, caught in Maguires Creek
Mark McGrouther © Australian Museum

Alternative Name/s

Kantari, Smelt, Victorian Smelt

Identification

The Australian Smelt has a tubular-shaped body with a dorsal fin placed in the posterior half. Behind this is a small adipose fin.  The fish is usually olive greenish above and white below, but there is considerable colour variation and work is required to clarify the taxonomic status of the species.

Size range

May reach 10 cm in length but fish of 5 cm to 6 cm in length are more common.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia.  It has a widespread distribution, from the Fitzroy River, southern Queensland to the Murray River Mouth eastern South Australia.  It also penetrates inland up the Murray and Darling Rivers.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Australian Smelt specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The Australian Smelt is usually found in slow flowing streams where it schools near the surface.  It is also known from some brackish waters.

Classification

Species:
semoni
Genus:
Retropinna
Family:
Retropinnidae
Order:
Salmoniformes
Class:
Actinopterygii

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
  2. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Australian Smelt, Retropinna semoni,