Osmeriformes- Smelts
Etymology: (Greek osme – foul smelling and Latin forma – shape)
Taxonomy:
Superclass: Osteichthyes
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
Subclass: Neopterygii
Infraclass: Teleostei
Superorder: Protacanthopterygii
Order Osmeriformes
Suborders: Galaxoidei
Osmeroidei
Older references include Argentinoidei as a suborder, but they are now a new order named Argentiniformes
Families (13): Alepocephalidae (slickheads), Argentinidae Bathylaconidae Bathylagidae
(deep sea smelts) Galaxiidae Lepidogalaxiidae (salamaderfish) Leptochilichthyidae (marine smelts) Microstomatidae (pencil smelts) Opisthoproctidae (barreleyes), Osmeridae
(smelts), Platytroctidae (tubeshoulders) Plecoglossidae (ayu) Retropinnidae (southern hemisphere smelts and graylings) Salangidae (icefishes, noodlefishes)
Description: The maxilla is included in the gape of the mouth except for in Protroctes and Lovettia species. Radii are absent on the scales. The basisphenoid and orbitosphenoid bones are absent.
Most species in this order have an adipose fin. There are no nuptial tubercles.
Habitat: The majority live in marine systems, most live in the open ocean, some are deep-sea fish.
Few species do inhabit freshwater and brackish systems. When they are present in lakes, the majority live at great depths.
Distribution: They are found in temperate waters around the world, including around Australia,
New Zealand, Tasmania, Japan and around North and South America. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus
mordax) is present in Lake Champlain.
Ecology and Life History: The vast majority of the species spawn in freshwater. Because many of the species are marine species they are often anadromus.
Additional Details: Some families have bioluminescent members. Many emit the smell of cucumbers, which could be the reason for the name of the order, as it relates to the Greek root osme
(foul smelling). Ayu are a delicacy in Japan and are also known as the “sweetfish”.
Recent Research: Parker Stretter, S. L., J. L. Stritzel Thompson, L. G. Rudstam, D. L Parirish, P. J.
Sullivan. 2007. Importance and predictability of cannibalism in rainbow smelt. Transactions of the
American Fisheries Society 136 (1): 227-237.
References Used:
Bond, C. E. 1996. Biology of Fishes, 2 nd . ed. Saunders College Publishing, Fort Worth
Fish Base. Accessed 29 January 2013. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/ordersSummary. php?order=OsmeriformesNelson, J. S. 1994. Fishes of the World. 3rd. ed. Wiley and Sons, New
York.

Beloniformes (Greek belon – a dart, arrowhead, needle)