Where Does Rainbow Smelt Live?

Rainbow Smelt lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Rainbow Smelt

Water type

brackish

Depth

Typically found in shallow to moderate depths (0-100 meters), but can occur deeper in large lakes or marine environments.

Environment

Anadromous populations inhabit coastal marine waters and estuaries, migrating into freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. Landlocked populations reside in cold, deep freshwater lakes. They prefer clear, cool, well-oxygenated waters.

Geographic range

Native to the Atlantic coast of North America from Labrador to Virginia. Introduced and widely established in the Great Lakes basin and numerous other inland lakes and reservoirs across North America. Also found in some European waters (e.g., Baltic Sea) where it is considered an introduced species.

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