Denmark country information

Common names: Europæisk smelt, Smelt, Stint
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Winkler, H.M., K. Skora, R. Repecka, M. Ploks, A. Neelov, L. Urho, A. Gushin and H. Jespersen, 2000
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Occurs in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Skagerrak (Ref. 9946, 6302), as well as in lakes and watercourses throughout the country. Anadromous and stationary stocks in Limfjorden, Nissum Fjord, Stadil Fjord and Ringkøbing Fjord (Ref. 9945).
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: McAllister, D.E., 1984
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Osmeriformes (Smelts) > Osmeridae (Smelts)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Корюшка европейская, Éperlan européen, Eperlano europeo, ... more

Main reference

Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof. 2007. (Ref. 59043)
References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4545); common length : 16.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 682); max. published weight: 178.00 g (Ref. 6114); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 682)

Length at first maturity
L_m 12.8 range ? - ? cm

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous (Ref. 51243), usually ? - 50 m (Ref. 4545)

Climate / Range

Temperate, preferred 10°C (Ref. 107945); 70°N - 43°N, 9°W - 55°E

Distribution

North Atlantic: White Sea southward to western coasts of France including Baltic Sea, southern North Sea and British Isles (Ref. 4545); the Gironde estuary is the southern limit of his distribution (Ref. 51442). Landlocked populations in lakes of coastal areas of North, Baltic, White and Barents Sea. North to about 68° N in Scandinavia (Ref. 59043). The former nominal subspecies Osmerus eperlanus eperlanus is recorded from the coasts and drainage of White and Barents Seas westward through Baltic Sea to Denmark and it is primarily lacustrine (Ref. 4545). The former subspecies Osmerus eperlanus schonfoldi (Rutty 1772) is sympatric with the nominate subspecies in parts of Poland, Denmark and the Baltic, and it is primarily anadromous (Ref. 4545).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 16; Vertebrae: 55 - 62. Body long and slim (Ref. 4545). Head rather pointed (Ref. 4545). Snout pointed (Ref. 4545). Upper jaw reaching to hind margin of eye, lower jaw projecting a little (Ref. 4545, Ref. 51442). Teeth in lower jaw larger than those of upper, strong teeth on tongue and canines on vomer (Ref. 4545). Dorsal fin origin behind base of pelvic fins (Ref. 4545). Incomplete lateral line is developed near the head (Ref. 51442). Dorsal side light olive green, flanks silver stripe, belly creamy white (Ref. 4545).

Inhabits marine waters, estuaries and large lakes (Ref. 59043). A midwater species, rarely far from shore, primarily anadromous in the west and lacustrine in the east; shoaling at least during spawning season (Ref. 4545). The essential part of its life is spend in the estuarine zone, with just short incursions in the littoral zone (Ref. 51442). The migratory form is grouping together in the estuarine zone for reproduction (Ref. 51442). Enters the rivers for spawning on sandy or gravely bottoms (Ref. 13696). Spawns in tributaries of lakes or along shallow shores of lakes and rivers on sand, gravel, stones and plant material, preferably in fast-flowing water (Ref. 59043). Reproduction takes place between February and May, depending on the water-temperature (Ref. 51442). Produces 8,000-50,000 yellow eggs with a diameter of 0.6-0.9 mm which adhere to the bottom (Ref. 13696, Ref. 51442). Eggs hatch in 3-5 weeks and the larvae descend to the estuarine zone (Ref. 13696, Ref. 51442). Feeds on shrimps and small crustaceans; larger individuals feed on small fish (Ref. 30578, Ref. 51442). Utilized as foodfish, smoked, as bait and fish oil (Ref. 35388). Smells like cucumber (Ref. 37032, 51442). Locally threatened due to pollution and barriers to migration (Ref. 59043).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial

More information

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Ecology
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Common names
Synonyms
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Predators
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Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
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Length-weight
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Morphometrics
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References
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Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
3.5 ±0.42 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.15-0.25; tm=2-4; tmax=10; Fec=10,000)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high

Osmerus eperlanus (Linnaeus, 1758)