The herring smelts or argentines are a family, Argentinidae, of marine smelts. They are similar in appearance to smelts (family Osmeridae) but have much smaller mouths. They are found in oceans throughout the world. They are small fishes, growing up to long, except the greater argentine, Argentina silus, which reaches .

The herring smelts or argentines are a family, Argentinidae, of marine smelts. They are similar in appearance to smelts (family Osmeridae) but have much smaller mouths. They are found in oceans throughout the world. They are small fishes, growing up to long, except the greater argentine, Argentina silus, which reaches .