Diagnosis:

Soft-rayed
Cycloid scales; head without scales
Fleshy appendages at base of pelvic fins absent
Last few vertebrae not turned dorsally (as per Salmonidae)
Generally forked caudal fins
Lateral line present
Adipose fin present
Generally small
Generally anadromous
Seven species in British Columbia waters. Allosmerus elongates (Whitebait Smelt), Hypomesus pretiosus pretiosus (Surf Smelt), Mallotus villosus (Capelin), Osmerus mordax dentex (Rainbow Smelt), Spirinchus starksi (Night Smelt), and Spirinchus thaleichthys (Longfin Smelt) are not included in this discussion.