| Philypnodon grandiceps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A Flathead Gudgeon, Philypnodon grandiceps, at Halls Gap, Grampians, Victoria | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Eleotridae |
| Genus: | Philypnodon |
| Species: | P. grandiceps |
| Binomial name | |
| Philypnodon grandiceps | |
| Synonyms | |
Eleotris grandicepsKrefft, 1864 | |
The flathead gudgeon (Philypnodon grandiceps) is a species of fish in the family Eleotridae endemic to eastern Australia. [1]
Gerard Krefft described the flathead gudgeon in 1864 as Eleotris grandiceps, recording it from the Upper Hawkesbury River and its tributaries, and freshwater lagoons near Richmond, Eastern Creek, and Bronte. [2] Alternate names include big-headed gudgeon, bull head, bull-headed gudgeon, collundera, and Yarra gudgeon. [3]
The flathead gudgeon generally grows to about 8 cm (3.2 in) in length, though large individuals up to 11 or 12 cm (4.5 in) have been recorded. [3] It has a large, flattened head and large mouth, which extends back past the eyes, and two short dorsal fins. The upperparts can be various shades of grey, brown, black, or yellowish, with yellowish underparts. The flathead gudgeon can be distinguished from the dwarf flathead gudgeon ( Philypnodon macrostomus ) by barred lines on its flanks, larger size (the latter species only reaching 5 cm (2 in) long), and wide gill openings. [4]
The flathead gudgeon is found in estuaries and freshwater rivers from just north of the Fitzroy River in central Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to the Gawler River in South Australia, as well as some parts of northern Tasmania. [5]
Carnivorous, the flathead gudgeon preys upon small fish, tadpoles, and aquatic arthropods. [4] It, in turn, has been recorded as prey of the yellow-billed spoonbill. [6]
The female lays 500–1000 elongated eggs on a hard surface in spring, which are watched over afterwards by the male. [4]
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.
The freshwater crocodile, also known as the Australian freshwater crocodile, Johnstone's crocodile or also known as freshie, is a species of crocodile endemic to the northern regions of Australia.
A flathead is one of a number of small to medium fish species with notably flat heads, distributed in membership across various genera of the family Platycephalidae. Many species are found in the Indo-Pacific, especially most parts of Australia where they are popular sport and table fish. They inhabit estuaries and the open ocean. Flathead can grow up to 1.3 metres in length and 15 kilograms in weight, with dusky flathead being the biggest, although fish this size are seldom caught.
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 yellow-billed spoonbill is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is native to Australia, and is a vagrant to New Zealand, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.
Gudgeon is the common name for a number of small freshwater fish of the families Butidae, Cyprinidae, Eleotridae or Ptereleotridae. Most gudgeons are elongate, bottom-dwelling fish, many of which live in rapids and other fast moving water.
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.
The Australasian darter or Australian darter is a species of bird in the darter family, Anhingidae. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. It weighs around 2.6 kg and spans 86–94 cm (34–37 in) in length.
Butis butis, the crazy fish, duckbill sleeper, or upside-down sleeper, is a species of sleeper goby that are native to brackish and freshwater coastal habitats of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean from the African coast to the islands of Fiji. They prefer well-vegetated waters and can frequently be found in mangrove swamps. They are small, drably-colored fish, reaching a maximum length of only 15 cm (5.9 in). They are predatory and are known for their behavior of swimming vertically – or even upside down – while hunting.
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.
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 fisherman due to its capacity to fight well above its weight coupled with its table quality.
The peacock gudgeon or peacock goby is a tropical freshwater species of fish in the family Eleotridae that is endemic to the eastern part of Papua New Guinea. It can be found in schools hovering over the substrate in rivers and ponds. This species can reach a length of 7.5 cm (3.0 in). It is currently the only known member of its genus.
Gobio gobio, or the gudgeon, is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. This small fish is widely distributed in fresh-water streams and lakes across central and temperate Eurasia.
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.
Philypnodon is a genus of fishes in the family Eleotridae endemic to Australia and the coastal waters around it.
Hypseleotris compressa, the empire gudgeon, is a species of Gobiiform fish in the family Eleotridae endemic to Australia and south-central New Guinea.
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 dwarf flathead gudgeon is a species of sleeper goby endemic to eastern Australia.
Oxyeleotris nullipora, the poreless gudgeon, is a gudgeon of the genus Oxyeleotris, a freshwater fish found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.