The rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) is a North American species of fish of the family Osmeridae. Walleye, trout, and other larger fish prey on these smelt. The rainbow smelt prefer juvenile ciscoes, zooplankton such as calanoid copepods (Leptodiaptomus ashlandi, L. minutus, L. sicilis), and other small organisms, but are aggressive and will eat almost any fish they find. They are anadromous spring spawners and prefer clean streams with light flow and light siltation. The rainbow smelt face several barriers. They are weak swimmers and struggle to navigate fish ladders preventing them from making it past dams to the headwater streams where they spawn.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Rainbow Smelt being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Osmerus eperlanus
- Hypomesus nipponensis
- Hypomesus pretiosus
- Spirinchus thaleichthys
- Retropinna retropinna
- Odontesthes bonariensis
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Osmeriformes
- Family
- Osmeridae
- Genus
- Osmerus
- Species
- Osmerus mordax
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