Osmerus /ɒsˈmɪərəs/ is a genus of smelt.

Osmerus
Temporal range: Thanetian to Present[1]
Osmerus mordax
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Osmeriformes
Family: Osmeridae
Genus: Osmerus
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Salmo (Osmerus) Linnaeus, 1758
  • Osmerus Forskal, 1775
  • Osmerus Lacepède, 1803
  • Eperlanus Valenciennes in Gaimard, 1851

Species

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There are currently three recognized species in this genus:[2]

The Pygmy smelt Osmerus spectrum described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1870 is a synonym of O. mordax.

Fossil species[4]

References

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  1. Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 363: 1–560. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  2. Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Osmerus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  3. Mecklenburg, Catherine W.; Møller, Peter Rask; Steinke, Dirk (2010-12-01). "Biodiversity of arctic marine fishes: taxonomy and zoogeography". Marine Biodiversity. 41 (1): 109–140. doi:10.1007/s12526-010-0070-z. ISSN 1867-1616.
  4. "Osmerus Forskal 1775 (ray-finned fish)". Paleobiology Database.