Murray hardyhead

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Murray hardyhead
FMIB 45627 Craterocephalus fluviatilis.jpeg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Atheriniformes
Family: Atherinidae
Genus: Craterocephalus
Species:
C. fluviatilis
Binomial name
Craterocephalus fluviatilis
McCulloch, 1912

The Murray hardyhead (Craterocephalus fluviatilis) is a species of fish in the family Atherinidae endemic to inland parts of southeastern Australia. The fish is an omnivore, feeding on small crustaceans, aquatic insects and algae. [2]

Contents

Conservation

The fish was once widespread and abundant in the Murray and Murrumbidgee River systems in southern NSW and northern Victoria. However, they have suffered a serious population decline and now seem to be limited to a few sites, mainly in northern Victoria. There are very few recent records of Murray hardyheads from NSW.

The main threat to remaining populations is increasing salinity and lack of water. [2]

Murray hardyheads are now listed as an endangered species in NSW and threatened in Victoria. [2] There are heavy penalties for harming, possessing, buying, or selling them.

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References

  1. Stoessel, D., Ellis, I.M., Whiterod, N., Gilligan, D., Wedderburn, S.D. & Bice, C. (2019). "Craterocephalus fluviatilis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . IUCN. 2019: e.T40692A123379212.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 Bray, Dianne; Thompson, Vanessa. "Murray Hardyhead, Craterocephalus fluviatilis". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 15 October 2014.