Osmerus spectrum Cope, 1870
Pigmy smelt
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Osmeridae (Smelts)
Max. size:  17 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: Heney Lake in southern Quebec, Lake Utopia in southern New Brunswick in Canada, Wilton Pond and Green Lake in southern Maine, USA. Introduced into Meach and Ouimet lakes in southern Quebec. May be present in other lakes in eastern Canada and New England, USA.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Lives in small, deep, thermally stratified lakes. When this species occurs with Osmerus mordax, it usually spawns later in the year, feeds on smaller food items, grows more slowly, matures earlier in life, and has a shorter life span.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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