Mary River cod

Last updated

Mary River Cod
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percichthyidae
Genus: Maccullochella
Species:
M. mariensis
Binomial name
Maccullochella mariensis
Rowland, 1993
Synonyms
  • Maccullochella peelii mariensisRowland, 1993

The Mary River cod (Maccullochella mariensis) is a species of temperate perch native to the coastal Mary River system of southern Queensland, Australia. [2] Mary River cod are one of Australia's most endangered freshwater fishes [3] and are notable for being the most northerly of the four Maccullochella cods found or once found in coastal river systems of eastern Australia.

Contents

The endangered status of the fish was one of the reasons that the Traveston Crossing Dam was not able to be built. [4]

The species is very territorial, staying in the same spot for 98% of the time, leaving only to feed and breed. [4]

Description

The Mary River cod is a large fish recorded up to almost 40 kg and 120 cm in the early years of European settlement, but now are mostly less than 5 kg and 70 cm. [3]

Very similar in appearance to Murray cod and eastern freshwater cod, they are striking looking, golden-yellow to dark green or brown, deep-bodied fish with dark green to black mottling. [3] Curiously, Mary River cod have a slightly shorter, thicker caudal peduncle (tail wrist) than the other cod species.

Conservation

The Mary River Cod is listed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and is estimated to only occur in less than 30% of its historic range. [3]

Incredibly abundant at the time of the first European settlement, Mary River Cod were grossly overfished with nets, lines, and explosives by the early European settlers and, as with other Maccullochella cods, were even used as pig feed. This overfishing, combined with the massive siltation of their habitats by land clearing, destruction of riparian vegetation and cattle trampling river banks, and dams and weirs blocking migration, rapidly caught up with this large, slow-growing, long-lived Maccullochella cod species, as it has with all its close relatives. It is estimated that just 600 individuals survived in the wild in the 1980s. [5]

Outside of a few stocked Queensland impoundments- upstream of the walls of Cressbrook, Hinze, Maroon, Moogerah, North Pine, Somerset, and Wivenhoe Dams and lakes Dyer (Bill Gunn dam) and Clarendon- the fish is a no-take species, and any caught should be carefully released. [3] A strict bag limit of one fish with a minimum size of 50 cm applies to the stocked impoundments. [3]

Classification

Taxonomically, the Mary River cod was originally described as a subspecies of the Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii based on studies of muscle proteins and enzymes.

As of 2010, after studies of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, the Mary River cod has been raised to full species status. [6] This research reveals the Mary River cod's closest relative is the eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei) of the Clarence River system.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cod</span> Common name for the demersal fish genus Gadus

Cod is the common name for the demersal fish genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae. Cod is also used as part of the common name for a number of other fish species, and one species that belongs to genus Gadus is commonly not called cod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane River</span> River in Queensland, Australia

The Brisbane River is the longest river in South East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea. John Oxley, the first European to explore the river, named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane in 1823. The penal colony of Moreton Bay later adopted the same name, eventually becoming the present city of Brisbane. The river is a tidal estuary and the water is brackish from its mouth through the majority of the Brisbane metropolitan area westward to the Mount Crosby Weir. The river is wide and navigable throughout the Brisbane metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray cod</span> The largest Australian predatory freshwater fish in the family Percichthyidae

The Murray cod is a large Australian predatory freshwater fish of the genus Maccullochella in the family Percichthyidae. Although the species is called a cod in the vernacular, it is not related to the Northern Hemisphere marine cod (Gadus) species. The Murray cod is an important part of Australia's vertebrate wildlife—as an apex predator in the Murray-Darling River system—and also significant in Australia's human culture. The Murray cod is the largest exclusively freshwater fish in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. Other common names for Murray cod include cod, greenfish, goodoo, Mary River cod, Murray perch, ponde, pondi and Queensland freshwater cod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern freshwater cod</span> Species of fish

The eastern freshwater cod, also known as the eastern cod or Clarence River cod, is a large predatory freshwater fish of the genus Maccullochella and the family Percichthyidae, that occur in the coastal Clarence River system of north-eastern New South Wales. Eastern freshwater cod are closely related to the Murray cod of the Murray-Darling River system, and are considered an icon of the Clarence River system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trout cod</span> Species of fish

The trout cod or bluenose cod, is a large predatory freshwater fish of the genus Maccullochella and the family Percichthyidae, closely related to the Murray cod. It was originally widespread in the south-east corner of the Murray-Darling river system in Australia, but is now an endangered species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temperate perch</span> Family of fishes

The members of the family Percichthyidae are known as the temperate perches. They belong to the order Perciformes, the perch-like fishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peel River (New South Wales)</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

Peel River, a watercourse that is part of the Namoi catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the North West Slopes and Plains district of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Threatened fauna of Australia</span> Animals at risk of becoming extinct

Threatened fauna of Australia are those species and subspecies of birds, fish, frogs, insects, mammals, molluscs, crustaceans, and reptiles to be found in Australia that are in danger of becoming extinct. This article lists species classified as threatened species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macquarie perch</span> Species of fish

The Macquarie perch is an Australian native freshwater fish of the Murray-Darling river system. It is a member of the family Percichthyidae and is closely related to the golden perch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden perch</span> Species of fish

The golden perch is a medium-sized, yellow or gold-coloured species of Australian freshwater fish found primarily in the Murray-Darling River system, though a subspecies is found in the Lake Eyre-Cooper Creek system, and another subspecies, suspected to be ancestral to all other populations, is found in the Fitzroy River system in Queensland. Other common names for golden perch are "goldens", “yellowbelly” and "callop", the last generally used only in South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian bass</span> Species of fish

The Australian bass is a small- to medium-sized species of primarily freshwater fish found in coastal rivers and streams along the east coast of Australia. A member of the genus Macquaria from the family Percichthyidae, the Australian bass is an important member of the native fish assemblages found in east coast river systems. It is a native predatory fish and an extremely popular game fish species among anglers. The species was simply called perch in most coastal rivers where it was caught until the 1960s, when the name "Australian bass" started to gain popularity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River blackfish</span> Species of fish

The river blackfish is a freshwater fish endemic to the temperate waters of south-eastern Australia. It is found from southern Queensland through to central Victoria, including in the Murray-Darling river system. It is also found in some eastern and southern flowing coastal rivers. Found primarily in upland and "midland" habitats, though early records of fish fauna suggest it was originally far more extensively distributed and was found in some lowland habitats as well. Originally, river blackfish co-inhabited many of its lowland and "midland" habitats with species such as Murray cod and golden perch, and its upland habitats with species such as trout cod and Macquarie perch. It is a popular angling fish in some parts of its range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stream capture</span> Geomorphological phenomenon

Stream capture, river capture, river piracy or stream piracy is a geomorphological phenomenon occurring when a stream or river drainage system or watershed is diverted from its own bed, and flows instead down the bed of a neighbouring stream. This can happen for several reasons, including:

The Richmond River cod was a form of Maccullochella cod, now believed to have been eastern freshwater cod, Maccullochella ikei, that occurred naturally in the Richmond River system, an east coast river system in north-east New South Wales, Australia.

The Brisbane River cod was a unique form of Maccullochella cod that occurred naturally in the Brisbane River system, an east coast river system in south east Queensland, Australia. The Brisbane River Cod was known as the Bumgur by the Jinibara people centred in the Kilcoy region and the junction of the Stanley and Brisbane Rivers. Their exact taxonomic status is not known, but based on several genetic studies it is suspected that Brisbane River Cod were a species intermediate between eastern freshwater cod of the Clarence River and Richmond River systems in northern New South Wales and Mary River cod of the Mary River in central Queensland.

<i>Maccullochella</i> Genus of fishes

Maccullochella is a genus of large Australian predatory freshwater fish within the family Percichthyidae. The genus Maccullochella was named after an early Australian fish researcher with the surname McCulloch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloomfield River cod</span> Species of fish

The Bloomfield River cod or the tropical nightfish, is a species of temperate perch endemic to Australia. It is only found in an 11-km stretch of the Bloomfield River in northern Queensland. These waterfalls appear to have blocked the migration of more aggressive tropical freshwater fish species such as the sooty grunter that have presumably naturally displaced the Bloomfield River cod from its former range in prehistoric times. With its very limited distribution, the Bloomfield River cod is clearly a relict species. It is a very important relict species, however, as it is the most northerly distributed percichthyid species in Australia, and raises interesting questions on the biogeography of percichthyid fish in Australia and the history of their ancient colonisation of Australian rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary River (Queensland)</span> River in Queensland, Australia

The Mary River is a major river system in the South East and Wide Bay–Burnett regions of Queensland, Australia. The Mary River is unique in that it flows south to north.

<i>Acanthopagrus australis</i> Species of fish

Acanthopagrus australis, the yellowfin bream, also known as sea bream, surf bream, silver bream or eastern black bream, is a species of marine and freshwater fish of the porgy family, Sparidae. It is a deep-bodied fish, occasionally confused with Acanthopagrus butcheri, but is generally distinguished by its yellowish ventral and anal fins. It is a popular target for recreational fishermen due to its capacity to fight well above its weight coupled with its table quality.

Noosa Biosphere Reserve is an internationally protected area covering the region of Noosa in Queensland, Australia. It is formally recognised as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program for its highly diverse ecosystem over a relatively small space. It was the first Biosphere Reserve for the state of Queensland, established in September 2007. The reserve is bound by the Noosa Shire Council boundaries, extending offshore by 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), covering 150,000 hectares in total. It is governed by Noosa Biosphere Limited (NBL), a not-for-profit company, which mainly consists of members from the local community who fulfil roles in the governance board, sector boards, and partnerships. Community plays a significant role in the implementation of the Biosphere Reserve guidelines.

References

  1. Brooks, S.; Butler, G.; Kennard, M.; Espinoza, T. (2019). "Maccullochella mariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T122906177A123382286. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T122906177A123382286.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Maccullochella mariensis" in FishBase . February 2014 version.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gomon, Martin; Bray, Dianne. "Mary River Cod, Maccullochella mariensis". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 Nichols, Jennifer (29 January 2018). "Saving the endangered Mary River cod a dangerous occupation, but a labour of love". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  5. Nichols, Jennifer (26 September 2023). "Fishers fined for ignoring Mary River bans during endangered cod breeding season". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  6. Nock C.J., Elphinstone M.S., Rowland S.J. and Baverstock, P.R. (2010). Phylogenetics and revised taxonomy of the Australianfreshwater cod genus, Maccullochella (Percichthyidae). Marine and Freshwater Research61: 980–991.