European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) is found from France and the British Isles north into the Baltic Sea. It is also found in the Barents Sea. This smelt is found primarily in marine environments close to land. This smelt migrates into fresh water to spawn. This smelt is also found in permanent freshwater waters. This smelt is normally 4 to 6 inches in length, but can reach 12 inches in migratory forms. This species is long and narrow and somewhat transparent. The dorsal fin is slightly elongated. The tail is forked. The mouth is large.

Smelt genus (Osmerus) is usually given its own family entitled Osmeridae. However, many scientists still place this genus in the salmon family.

Salmon Family, Salmonidae, is known for the trout and the salmon groups, both of which are considered good sport and table fish. Recently several hybrids have been introduced into the Great Lakes, especially Lake Michigan, with great success as a sport and commercial fish. Salmon and trout are primitive fish and lack bony spines in their fins.

Salmon Group, Order Salmoniformes, is found worldwide in oceans. It is also found in freshwater in many places in North America. A great number of the large game and sport fish are found in this order.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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