Body elongated, covered with large, easily falling scales. A large mouth. Sides of body silvery, back brownish-green. Feeds on zooplankton, the juveniles and eggs of fish. During spawning the body, head and fins covered with tubercles. Fresh smelt produces a characteristic smell of fresh cucumbers.
European smelt different from Asian toothed smelt a shorter lateral line and weak teeth; it is prevalent in the Baltic and North seas, Ladoga and Onega lakes. Freshwater forms of the European smelt — smelt — "the dwarf", the lake form of smelt (O. eperlanus m. spirinchus) — found in lakes of the North-Western part of European Russia and in many lakes of Northern part of Western Europe and are of great commercial importance. Inhabits the coastal areas of the seas and priustevyh spaces rivers, the North Atlantic and the Arctic ocean.
The most intensive feeding occurs during summer and autumn, in the vicinity of the coast and is where most of the year. Sneki do not live more than 2-3 years, reproduce at the age of 1-2 years, the size usually does not exceed 9-10 cm and a weight of 6-8 g, Baltic smelt spawns in the age of 2-4 years, white 3-4 years, Siberian — 5-7 years. Siberian smelt live up to 9-12 years and reach sizes up to 30-35 cm in length and 350 g weight. Later maturing smelt live longer and reach larger sizes .
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Body elongated, covered with large, easily falling scales. A large mouth. Sides of body silvery, back brownish-green. Feeds on zooplankton, the juveniles and eggs of fish. During spawning the body, head and fins covered with tubercles. Fresh smelt produces a characteristic smell of fresh cucumbers.
European smelt different from Asian toothed smelt a shorter lateral line and weak teeth; it is prevalent in the Baltic and North seas, Ladoga and Onega lakes. Freshwater forms of the European smelt — smelt — "the dwarf", the lake form of smelt (O. eperlanus m. spirinchus) — found in lakes of the North-Western part of European Russia and in many lakes of Northern part of Western Europe and are of great commercial importance. Inhabits the coastal areas of the seas and priustevyh spaces rivers, the North Atlantic and the Arctic ocean.
The most intensive feeding occurs during summer and autumn, in the vicinity of the coast and is where most of the year. Sneki do not live more than 2-3 years, reproduce at the age of 1-2 years, the size usually does not exceed 9-10 cm and a weight of 6-8 g, Baltic smelt spawns in the age of 2-4 years, white 3-4 years, Siberian — 5-7 years. Siberian smelt live up to 9-12 years and reach sizes up to 30-35 cm in length and 350 g weight. Later maturing smelt live longer and reach larger sizes .