- © A.Reitsma, Aquarium of the Pacific
- Tosmelt in the Aquarium's Amber Forest
Although their common name contains “smelt”, topsmelt are not true smelt—they are in the silversides family, Atherinidae, a family that includes jacksmelt (Atherinopsis californiensis) and grunion (Leuresthes tenuis). The family name, silversides, is very descriptive as these small elongate fish appear to be formed of burnished silver. They are common along the southern California coast and frequently appear in large schools, sometimes in the company of sardines. Having the ability to tolerate varying levels of salinity, this species is found in both marine and estuarine environments.
Facts and Features
- Geographic Distribution
Vancouver Island to the Gulf of California, abundant in California.
- Amazing Facts
While some ichthyologists have separated California’s population of Atherinops affinis into five separate subspecies largely based on geographic location, others believe, as does California Fish and Game, that there is only one species and no subspecies
- At the Aquarium
These silvery fish inhabit our Shorebird Sanctuary and the Southern California Gallery's Amber Forest. Our aquarists prepare a diet of finely chopped mixture of fish, clams, squid, and shrimp or krill for our topsmelt.