Hypomesus transpacificus McAllister, 1963
Delta smelt
Hypomesus transpacificus
photo by The Native Fish Conservancy

Family:  Osmeridae (Smelts)
Max. size:  12 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 1 years
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater; brackish, anadromous
Distribution:  North America: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region in central California, USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 16-20; Vertebrae: 52-57. Vomer without posterior process; periphery of glossohyal bone with single row of conical teeth, central part toothless; pyloric caeca 4(2-5); base of adipose fin more than 20% of head length; eye large; adipose eyelid poorly developed.
Biology:  Adults occur in open brackish and freshwater of large channels. Diet consists of zooplankton (Ref. 33312).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 17 February 2012 (A2bce) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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