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Eulachon

Thaleichthys pacificus

Classification

Family
Osmeridae

The eulachon (; Thaleichthys pacificus), or the candlefish, is a small anadromous species of smelt that spawns in some of the major river systems along the Pacific coast of North America from northern California to Alaska. Etymology The name "candlefish" derives from it being so fatty during spawning, with up to 15% of the total body weight in fat, that if caught, dried, and strung on a wick, it can be burned as a candle. This is the name most often used by early explorers.

Distribution

(c) Connie Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
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Countries in the Picchu catalog
Canada · 24,220United States of America · 503