| Southern pygmy perch | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percichthyidae |
| Genus: | Nannoperca |
| Species: | N. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Nannoperca australis Günther, 1861 | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
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The southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis), also known as the Tasmanian pygmy perch, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a temperate perch from the family Percichthyidae which is native to southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
The southern pygmy perch has an oblong and moderately compressed body with a convex dorsal profile and a straight ventral profile. It has a large head the top of which bulges slightly and a blunt snout. It has a slightly oblique, terminal mouth which is protractile with the maxilla reaching to a level near the centre of the eye. There are thin bands of villiform teeth on the jaws and the roof of the mouth. There is a lateral line made up of an irregular series of pored scales. The dorsal fin has 7-9 spines in its front part, separated from the rear part by a deep notch, the rear part contains 7-10 soft rays. The anal fin is similar in shape to the soft part of the dorsal fin and has 3 spines and 7-8 soft rays. The large caudal fin is rounded. [3] They are variable in colour, the colour apparently being determined by their environment and can be pale cream through to greenish-brown, with paler underparts. They can also show irregular markings on the flanks such as dark spotting or horizontal stripes. In the breeding season the males are brighter as their dorsal, anal and caudal fins develop a red colour and have black margins and the pelvic fins and the area around the anus become black. [4] These fish attain a maximum total length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) but are more commonly recorded at standard lengths of around 6 centimetres (2.4 in). [2]
Southern pygmy perch are endemic to temperate rivers systems in southeastern Australia, especially the Murray-Murrumbidgee river system from Brinagagee bear Darlington Point in New South Wales, in Victoria (Australia) west to Ewens Ponds in South Australia. They also occur on Flinders Island and on King Island in the Bass Strait and in the northward draining rivers in Tasmania. [3]
Southern pygmy perch are found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats so long as they have aquatic vegetation. They can be found in both still or slow flowing waters and they have been recorded in low current streams, lakes, billabongs, ditches, impoundments, swamps and ephemeral wetlands. In all of these habitat they prefer the vegetated marginal areas. [3] It is a mainly carnivorous species with its diet mostly consisting of small invertebrates such as mosquito larvae and other aquatic insects, as well as Daphnia and other crustaceans. As they mature they prey on larger insects including mayflies but their small mouth means that they do not consume many other fishes. [4] Southern pygmy perch attain sexual maturity during the first year after hatching, mature males are mature at about 30 millimetres (1.2 in) and females at around 33 millimetres (1.3 in). The breeding season runs from the late winter into the early spring once the water temperatures rise above 16 °C (61 °F). Breeding males are territorial and defend a small area of water from other males. The female lays small clutches of eggs in the aquatic vegetation or onto the riverbed within the male's territory. These hatch into larvae of 3-4mm in length 2-4 days after fertilisation. [3]
The Southern pygmy perch was formerly widespread in New South Wales, but has now largely been extirpated from the state, with only three known locations where it can still be found. It is still common in coastal Victoria, but it is rare in the Murray River catchment of that state, and it is rare and threatened in South Australia. [5] In Tasmania it remains relatively common. [6] The reasons for the decline and continuing threats to this species includes invasive alien fish species such as eastern mosquitofish, brown trout and European perch, as well as cold water pollution, habitat fragmentation and destruction [5] The IUCN assessed the conservation status of this species as Near Threatened in 2019. [1] The Department of Primary Industries in New South Wales has undertaken a captive breeding programme for this species. [3]
The Southern pygmy perch was first formally described in 1861 by Albert Günther with the type locality given as the Murray River. [7] Molecular studies have shown that there are two cryptic species within Nannoperca australis one from the eastern coastal streams and the other from the Murray–Darling basin and the western coastal streams. [3]
The Southern pygmy perch is in the aquarium trade within Australia where it is kept in cold water aquaria and in ponds. [4]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The western pygmy perch is a species of temperate perch endemic to southwestern Australia.
Pelvicachromis pulcher is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family, endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon. It is popular amongst aquarium hobbyists, and is most commonly sold under the name kribensis, although it has other common names, including various derivatives and color morphs of the kribensis: krib, common krib, red krib, super-red krib and rainbow krib, along with rainbow cichlid and purple cichlid.
The coldwater darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the United States, where it occurs in the Coosa River system of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Kuhlia marginata, the dark-margined flagtail, spotted flagtail, silver flagtail, orange-finned flagtail, northern jungle perch or mountain bass, is a species of diadromous ray-finned fish, a flagtail from the family Kuhliidae. It is found in eastern Asia and Oceania.
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.
Toxotes chatareus, sometimes known by the common names common archerfish, seven-spot archerfish or largescale archerfish, is a species of perciform fish in the archerfish genus Toxotes.
The sooty grunter, also known by the name black bream, blubberlips, Northern grunter or purple grunter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a grunter from the family Terapontidae. It inhabits coastal and inland freshwater creeks and rivers of northern Australia.
Percina maculata, the blackside darter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is a widespread inhabitant of streams and rivers in the Mississippi River watershed. Like other darters it prefers rocky riffles and sandy runs, but is tolerant of pools and still water as well. It is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee.
Percina shumardi is a benthic species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to North America. It is an inhabitant of small and medium rivers where it occurs in rocky riffles with clear, fast-flowing water. The river darter can reach up to 7.3 cm in length and has an average lifespan of three years. It can be distinguished from other darters by its unique front and rear spots on the dorsal fin.
The ornate rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish endemic to an area in eastern Australia, where it is native to coastal regions and sandy offshore islands in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is the only known member of its genus. It is a popular aquarium fish.
Leiopotherapon unicolor, the spangled grunter or spangled perch is a species of ray-finned fish, a grunter from the family Terapontidae. It is endemic to Australia.
Kuhlia rupestris, the rock flagtail, jungle perch. mountain trout, buffalo bream, dusky-finned bulleye, rockmountain bass or spotted flagtail, is a species of ray-finned fish, a flagtail, from the family Kuhliidae. It is a catadromous species which is native to the Indo-Pacific and northern Australia.
The Christmas darter i is a species of ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae which includes the perches, ruffes and pike-perches. It is found in the Savannah, Ogeechee and Altamaha catchment areas in South Carolina and Georgia. It is a small but colorful fish, typically less than 5 cm (2 in) in total length, with blackish, red and green streaks on its flanks. Green and red are associated with Christmas, hence the common name Christmas darter. Like other darters, it lives on or close to the stream-bed, in riffles and vegetation-laden stretches of small rivers, creeks and spring-fed streams. It feeds on aquatic insects and probably breeds in the spring, but its biology and behavior are poorly known.
The Savannah darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States, where it occurs in the Edisto, Combahee, Broad and Savannah River drainages in South Carolina and Georgia. It inhabits gravel riffles, gravel and sand runs of creeks and small rivers. This species can reach a length of 7.4 cm (2.9 in).
