Australian smelt

Australian smelt, Retropinna semoni, is a small, pelagic silvery freshwater fish found in large numbers in waters of the south eastern Australian mainland.

Distribution

Widely distributed through the south eastern part of the Australian mainland. The species is found in coastal drainages from the south east corner of South Australia through Victoria, New South Wales to the Fitzroy River in south east Queensland. It occurs widely in the Murray River and its tributaries and up the Darling as far upstream as Wilcannia. There are isolated populations in the Coopers Creek which drains into Lake Eyre and several smaller ones in north-western New South Wales and southern Queensland. Recent genetic research indicates Australian smelt stocks are composed of 5 highly genetically distinct and as yet undescribed species (Hammer et al., 2007).

Physical description

A small silvery fish to 75 mm total length, very occasionally to 100 mm. In Coopers Creek usually only to 50 mm.

Habitat

Often found in large schools, this pelagic species prefers slow moving or still waters. It is often found in billabongs, dams and lakes at various salinity levels and in the lower reaches of rivers and streams. Although there have been some reports of diadromous populations, this fish usually completes its entire life cycle in freshwater.

Diet

Small aquatic insects, micro crustaceans and a variety of planktonic organisms.

Reproduction

Spawns in spring at water temperatures in excess of 15°C. Eggs are demersal, adhesive, spherical and transparent, about 0.8 mm diameter to 1 mm when water hardened. Eggs fall to the bottom and stick to instream debris, vegetation and the substrate. Females lay between 100 to 1000 eggs. Hatching occurs at about 9 to 10 days and larvae are around 4.5 to 5 mm total length.

Importance to humans

This species has some potential as an aquarium species. Ideally suited to use as an effective mosquito predator in ponds in south eastern Australia, especially where frogs are encountered. Not suitable for use in a community tank, best kept as a school of fish in a single species situation.

References

• "Retropinna semoni". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 March 2006. 
• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2005). "Retropinna semoni" in FishBase. 10 2005 version.
• Michael P. Hammer, Mark Adams, Peter J. Unmack and Keith F. Walker (2007) A rethink on Retropinna: conservation implications of new taxa and significant genetic sub-structure in Australian smelts (Pisces : Retropinnidae). Marine and Freshwater Research 58: 327–341.

External links

• Australian Smelt video on Youtube
• Native Fish Australia