Kingdom Animalia Order Argentiniformes Higher classification Argentiniformes | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Argentinidae Rank Family | |
 | ||
Lower classifications Greater argentine, Glossanodon semifasciatus | ||
The herring smelts or argentines are a family, Argentinidae, of marine smelts. They are similar in appearance to smelts (family Osmeridae) but have much smaller mouths.
They are found in oceans throughout the world. They are small fishes, growing up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long, except the greater argentine, Argentina silus, which reaches 70 centimetres (28 in).
They form large schools close to the sea floor, and feed on plankton, especially krill, amphipods, small cephalopods, chaetognaths, and ctenophores.
Several species are fished commercially and processed into fish meal.
References
Herring smelt Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA