The fish is endemic to Australia and widely distributed through the coastal drainages of the south eastern part of the mainland.

There are isolated populations in the Coopers Creek which drains into Lake Eyre and several smaller ones in north-western New South Wales and southern Queensland.

It is clear to purple-olive on the back, translucent with a silver streak along the sides, sometimes with orange highlights, and has colourless fins.

[2] A carnivorous fish, the Australian smelt feeds mostly on small invertebrates such as aquatic insects and microcrustaceans, and a variety of planktonic organisms.

Ideally suited to use as an effective mosquito predator in ponds in south eastern Australia, especially where frogs are encountered.