| Hypseleotris compressa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Eleotridae |
| Genus: | Hypseleotris |
| Species: | H. compressa |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypseleotris compressa | |
| Synonyms | |
Eleotris compressusKrefft, 1864 [1] | |
Hypseleotris compressa, the empire gudgeon, is a species of Gobiiform fish in the family Eleotridae endemic to Australia and south-central New Guinea. [1]
Gerard Krefft described the empire gudgeon in 1864 as Eleotris compressus, having been discovered by one James F. Wilcox. [3]
H. compressa has an elongated body which can be up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long. [4] The males are larger than the females. [5] The fish does not have a lateral line, but does have ctenoid scales. [6]
Its color varies, but the fish generally has a yellowish-tan to golden-brown head, although it can occasionally be a dark brown. [4] Its abdomen is usually a whitish-red color. [4] [7] During the off-breeding seasons, males can be identified by prominent, variously colored bands on their anal and dorsal fins. The caudal fin is a "dusky" colour, and the pectoral and pelvic fins have no colour. [4] During the breeding season, the male's colors brighten significantly, turning a red-orange colour, and they sometimes appear to glow. [4] [7] The male fish uses his colors to attract a mate. [1] The species can quickly change color as needed. [4]
The H. compressa population is mostly concentrated in the northern and eastern portions of Australia [4] and south-central New Guinea. [1] It has also been found in the Torres Strait, around Muralag and Horn Island. [6]
The fish is most commonly found in freshwater flowing rivers or streams, [4] [6] but is also found in still water and can withstand sea water level salinity. [1] [4] It is usually found in the lower reaches of rivers, but can also live upstream. [4] [6] It swims amongst aquatic plants and branches, [1] [5] and sometimes hides among rocks, using them as "caves". [4]
The fish is omnivorous, primarily taking small crustaceans and insects but will also consume algae and aquatic plants. [5] [6]
Spawning usually occurs in fresh water during warm weather; the breeding season generally spans from spring to autumn. After spawning with the male, the female fish lays rows of about 3,000 adhesive-coated eggs, each of which are about .32 mm long. The eggs stick to various surfaces, such as plants, logs, rocks, or sand. The male then fertilizes them with "sperm lines". The male guards the eggs until the young fish hatch, which usually takes 10–14 hours. After hatching, the young fish go downstream to estuaries, where their development takes place. Once grown, the fish return to fresh water. [1] [4] [6] This spawning strategy, coupled with the very small size of the newborn fry, has hindered efforts at propagating this species for aquariums, [8] though it has been accomplished by accident in shrimp aquaculture ponds. [9]
A controlled study comparing six native fish species with the introduced (and invasive) eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) on consuming larvae of the common banded mosquito ( Culex annulirostris ) in Brisbane found that the empire gudgeon was as efficient at eating mosquito larvae as the eastern mosquitofish and is a good candidate for mosquito control. [10]
The western Mosquitofish is a North American freshwater fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply Mosquitofish or by its generic name, Gambusia, or by the common name gambezi. Its sister species, the eastern mosquitofish is also referred to by these names.
The Australian lungfish, also known as the Queensland lungfish, Burnett salmon and barramunda, is the only surviving member of the family Neoceratodontidae. It is one of only six extant lungfish species in the world. Endemic to Australia, the Neoceratodontidae are an ancient family belonging to the class Sarcopterygii, or lobe-finned fishes.
Eleotridae is a family of fish commonly known as sleeper gobies, with about 34 genera and 180 species. Most species are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, but there are also species in subtropical and temperate regions, warmer parts of the Americas and near the Atlantic coast in Africa. While many eleotrids pass through a planktonic stage in the sea and some spend their entire lives in the sea; as adults, the majority live in freshwater streams and brackish water. One of its genera, Caecieleotris, is troglobitic. They are especially important as predators in the freshwater stream ecosystems on oceanic islands such as New Zealand and Hawaii that otherwise lack the predatory fish families typical of nearby continents, such as catfish. Anatomically, they are similar to the gobies (Gobiidae), though unlike the majority of gobies, they do not have a pelvic sucker.
The western carp gudgeon is one of several carp gudgeon species. Carp gudgeons are very small perciform fish found in the Australian Murray-Darling River system, mainly in lowland environments, but some have been observed in upland environments. They are often found in small creeks, as well as billabongs and the edges of larger rivers. They prefer water 1 to 2 m deep with aquatic weed and structure provided by rocks or sunken timber.
The green and golden bell frog, also named the green bell frog, green and golden swamp frog and green frog, is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog native to eastern Australia. Despite its classification and climbing abilities, it does not live in trees and spends almost all of its time close to ground level. It can reach up to 11 cm (4.5 in) in length, making it one of Australia's largest frogs.
The harlequin rasbora is a small fish in the family Cyprinidae. The species became an instant favorite among aquarists after its introduction in the early 1900s and is the best known and most widely kept species among the rasboras. In 1935, an image of a trio of harlequin rasboras, stamped in 14k gold, would grace the cover of the first edition of William T. Innes's classic Exotic Aquarium Fishes and would remain so through all 19 editions.
The western pygmy perch is a species of temperate perch endemic to southwestern Australia.
The eastern mosquitofish is a species of freshwater fish, closely related to the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The eastern mosquitofish is native to the eastern and southern United States from Florida to Pennsylvania and inland to Alabama and Tennessee, while the western mosquitofish has a larger distribution throughout the United States.
Mogurnda clivicola, commonly known as the Flinders Ranges mogurnda, Flinders Ranges purple-spotted gudgeon, Barcoo, or Bulloo mogurnda, is a central Australian gudgeon of the family Eleotridae.
Hypseleotris is a genus of fishes in the family Eleotridae. Most are from fresh water in Australia and New Guinea, but species in fresh and brackish water are found around islands in the western Indian Ocean, southern and eastern Africa, southern and eastern Asia, and Pacific islands. The largest species reaches a length of 12 cm (4.7 in). They are sometimes seen in the aquarium trade; especially H. compressa. In Australia they are known as carp gudgeons.
The honey blue-eye is an endangered species of fish in the subfamily Pseudomugilinae. It is endemic to southeastern Queensland, Australia, where it is found in mildly acidic, often tannin-stained, ponds and streams in wallum habitat.
Culex annulirostris, commonly known as the common banded mosquito, is an insect native to Australia, Fiji, Micronesia, the Philippines and Indonesia. It is regarded as a serious pest species throughout its range.
The White Cloud Mountain minnow is a hardy species of freshwater fish and coldwater fish often kept in an aquarium. The species is a member of the carp family of the order Cypriniformes, native to China. The White Cloud Mountain minnow is practically extinct in its native habitat, due to pollution and tourism. It was believed to be extinct for over 20 years in 1980, but an apparently native population of this fish was discovered on Hainan Island, well away from the White Cloud Mountain. They are bred in farms and are easily available through the aquarium trade. However, inbreeding in farms has led to genetically weak stock that is vulnerable to disease and prone to physical deformities.
The eastern mosquitofish was introduced to Australia in 1925, and had spread from the northeast coasts to New South Wales, southern Australia, and parts of Western Australia by 1934. By the 21st century, known populations of wild mosquitofish had occurred in every state and territory except the Northern Territory, found in swamps, lakes, billabongs, thermal springs, salt lakes, and ornamental ponds. Mosquitofish are considered a noxious pest, especially in New South Wales and Queensland, and it is illegal to release them into the wild or transport them live into any of the states or territories. Mosquitofish were introduced by military and local councils to control mosquito populations; however, there has been no evidence that Gambusia has had any effect in controlling mosquito populations or mosquito-borne diseases. Studies have shown that Gambusia can suffer mortalities if fed only on mosquito larvae, and survivors show poor growth and maturation. Gambusia typically eat zooplankton, beetles, mayflies, caddis flies, mites and other invertebrates; mosquito larvae make up only a small portion of their diet.
Melanotaenia duboulayi, the crimson-spotted rainbowfish, less commonly known as the Duboulay's rainbowfish, is a species of freshwater fish endemic to coastal eastern Australia. M. duboulayi has also been kept as an aquarium fish since the early 20th century, and is the original "Australian rainbowfish".
Gobiomorphus is a genus of fishes in the family Eleotridae native to New Zealand and Australia. They are typically small, benthic fishes with large, rounded fins and two dorsal fins. Many have an amphidromous lifecycle: the eggs are laid in fresh water, but the fry are dispersed to sea soon after hatching, and grow there for several months before returning to fresh water.
Zenarchopteridae, the viviparous halfbeaks, is a family in the order Beloniformes. The Zenarchopteridae exhibit strong sexual dimorphism, practicing internal fertilisation, and in some cases ovoviviparous or viviparous. The members in the family are mainly found in fresh and brackish water of tropical Asia and New Guinea, but the genus Zenarchopterus also includes marine species from the Indo-Pacific. Several, such as the wrestling halfbeak, have become commonly traded aquarium fish.
Mogurnda adspersa is a species of endangered gudgeon that is endemic to south-eastern mainland Australia. The fish is brown, although the shade becomes lighter near its abdomen. Spots of various colours occur on its sides. After a dramatic population decline in the late 20th century, the fish was thought to be locally extinct in several areas, but was rediscovered both in South Australia and Victoria in the 21st century. Various state governments, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, and various volunteer organisations have been taking measures to increase the fish's numbers.
Gobiomorphus australis, the striped gudgeon, is a fish in the family Eleotridae, native to eastern Australia. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats from clear streams with rapid currents to muddy stillwaters such as ponds and waterholes. Juveniles are common in estuaries near rocks, submerged logs and among vegetation. They are good climbers and are able to clamber over wet rocky surfaces such as rapids and waterfalls.
The flathead gudgeon is a species of fish in the family Eleotridae endemic to eastern Australia.
