Threatened Fishes of Queensland
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Australia New Guinea Fishes Association Queensland Inc. Threatened Fishes of Queensland Colouring Book Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis (Red‐finned Blue‐eye) and Chlamydogobius squamigenus (Edgbaston Goby) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock Pseudomugil mellis (Honey Blue‐eye) and Rhadinocentrus ornatus (Ornate Rainbowfish) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock Nannoperca oxleyana (Oxleyan Pygmy Perch) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock Kuhlia rupestris (Jungle Perch) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock Neoceratodus forsteri (Queensland Lungfish) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis (Red‐finned Blue‐eye) © Gunther Schmida The Red‐finned Blue‐eye is Australia’s smallest and most endangered fish. Red‐finned Blue‐eyes are found in artesian springs on a single property ‘Edgbaston Station’ that was bought by Bush Heritage Australia to protect the Blue‐eyes, Edgbaston Gobies, and a number of other plants and aquatic invertebrates that occur nowhere else. Red‐finned blue‐eyes are threatened by the introduced mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) an aggressive pest fish that preys upon the eggs and juveniles of many native fish species. BHA is trailing methods to control mosquito fish numbers and prevent them from entering more of the springs. ANGFA Qld is hoping to start a captive breeding programme to reduce the extinction risk for the species. Red‐finned Blue‐eyes are listed as Endangered under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act. Red‐finned Blue‐eyes are a “no‐take” species. More information at Home of the Rainbowfish. Chlamydogobius squamigenus (Edgbaston Goby) © Gunther Schmida Edgbaston Gobies are only found in the artesian springs of Edgbaston Station along with the Red‐finned Blue‐eye. Australia has a number of species of desert gobies that only occur in particular springs or water courses. Those that occur in artesian springs are especially at risk from habitat destruction as the springs are often damaged by stock watering and their flows and water levels can be impacted by water harvesting through artesian bores. Male Edgbaston Gobies have a head and body colour of dusky greyish yellow; the head is whitish‐ yellow underneath. They have indistinct narrow grey bars and mottling across the upper half of the body. The head is plain greyish‐yellow with a pale gold iris. The dorsal fin is blackish with a narrow chrome yellow submarginal band. The band is widest anteriorly, becoming narrower and darker posteriorly. A broad vivid blue band runs across the centre of the fin while the lower third of the fin is blackish. The second dorsal and anal fins are blackish with a broad bright greyish blue margin. The second dorsal fin has a diffuse greyish blue band across proximal half of fin. The caudal fin is very dark‐grey with a narrow dull whitish grey margin. Indistinct vertically aligned rows of yellowish to light grey spots are present. They can be distinguished from other Chlamydogobius species by the presence of scales on the cheeks. Males in breeding condition become quite colourful. Pseudomugil mellis (Honey Blue‐eye) © Gunther Schmida Honey Blue‐eyes are a wallum species, from the swamps and streams of coastal heathlands. Aquarium collecting, pest fish, and habitat degradation have contributed to their disappearance from much of their original distribution. ANGFA Qld members maintain captive populations of Honey Blue‐eyes and encourage others to keep them in ponds, farm dams, and aquaria. They are an excellent choice for backyard ponds because of their small size, wide temperature tolerance, and vibrant colouration. We also assist with and encourage the rehabilitation of degraded urban waterways and wetlands. Honey Blue‐eyes are listed as Vulnerable under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act. Honey Blue‐eyes are a “no‐take” species. More information at Home of the Rainbowfish. Rhadinocentrus ornatus (Ornate Rainbowfish) © Gunther Schmida Ornate Rainbowfish, also known as Soft Spined Sunfish, occur in coastal streams. There are many genetically distinct populations showing a variety of colours and patterns including red, blue, yellow, olive, and black in a variety of patterns. ANGFA Qld members maintain captive populations of distinct varieties from known locations and encourage the keeping of captive bred fish by aquarium hobbyists. While they are not listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act some populations have declined or disappeared so they have been listed as a significant species in the Brisbane City Council Planning Scheme. There is a take and possession limit of 20 Ornate Rainbowfish under the Queensland Fisheries Act. More information at Home of the Rainbowfish. Nannoperca oxleyana (Oxleyan Pygmy Perch) © Gunther Schmida Oxleyan Pygmy Perches are a wallum species, from the swamps and streams of coastal heathlands. They rely on riparian and emergent vegetation and/or undercut banks for protection. Habitat degradation has probably played a significant role in decreasing naturally small populations. ANGFA Qld members maintain captive populations as well as assisting with and encouraging the rehabilitation of degraded urban waterways and wetlands. Oxleyan Pygmy Perches are listed as Endangered under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and as Vulnerable under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act. More information at the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Kuhlia rupestris (Jungle Perch) © Gunther Schmida Jungle perch are a freshwater species that must return to saltwater to breed. They are a popular sport, table, and aquarium fish that have disappeared from many river systems along the Queensland coastline. Their decline is thought to be mostly a result of habitat degradation, with overhanging vegetation removed from many waterways, and barriers to migration, with dams and weirs preventing adult fish from moving downstream to breed and preventing juvenile fish from moving upstream to freshwater habitats. Fisheries researchers from DAFF are developing captive breeding techniques so that suitable waterways may be restocked. Removal or modification of barriers and habitat restoration may help the recovery of Jungle Perch populations. Jungle perch are not listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act. There is a combined take and possession limit of 1 Jungle Perch or 1 Spotted Flagtail under the Queensland Fisheries Act. More information at the Australian Museum. Neoceratodus forsteri (Queensland Lungfish) © Gunther Schmida The Queensland Lungfish is scientifically a very important species. It is a “fleshy‐finned” fish, of which there are only six species worldwide. It is probably the closest living fish to those that evolved to become amphibians and hence, all terrestrial vertebrates. Fossils similar to Lungfish date back 380 million years, approximately the time when higher vertebrate classes began evolving. It has remained virtually unchanged for at least 100 million years. The only natural populations occur in Queensland’s Mary and Burnett river systems. They are threatened by barriers to movement (dams and weirs) and altered flow regimes, with the long‐lived adult fish needing to migrate upstream into fast‐flowing shallow waters to breed. Lungfish are listed as Vulnerable under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Lungfish are a “no‐take” species. More information at the Australian Museum. Produced by ANGFA (Qld) Australia New Guinea Fishes Association Queensland Inc. PO Box 8135 Woolloongabba, Australia 4102. Web Site: http://www.angfaqld.org.au .