KOTKA MARETARIUM
Smelt Osmerus eperlanus
The smelt is a slender and translucent member of the salmon family, which is common along Finnish coastal and inland waters, except for northernmost part of Lapland. Its colouring is typical of fishes residing in wide-open waters, light at the bottom and silver-grayfish on top. The colouring helps it protect itself, from predators. Small smelt eat copepods and water fleas, but as they grow, they prefer shrimp and small fish. The smelt has sharp teeth in its mouth, which it uses to grab its prey. During the early spring, some smelt swim upstream in large schools to spawn, while others spawn in the shallow waters of coastal regions and lakes. Smelt may reach a length of up to 30 centimeters.
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