\b A Synoptic Check-list of the TRESHWATER FISHES of New Zealand By R.M. McDowall Fisheries Research Division Occasional publication No. 16 A Synoptic Check-list of the Freshwater Fishes of New Zealand By R. M. McDowall Fisheries Research Division. Occasional Publication No. 16 1980 Published by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wellington 1980 tssN 0110-1765 Contents Sls 2 lntroduction For many years there has been some uncertainty about what species of fish are present in New Zealand's fresh waters and what names should be applied to them. Studies in recent years have reduced this uncertainty to a point where the freshwater f ishes can be identif ied and named with considerable certainty. Major changes in the species recognised and the names used for them seem unlikely. Similarly, after 15 years' intensive collecting by staff of the Fisheries Research Division and others, major changes in knowledge of distribution seem unlikely. For these reasons it is now possible to prepare a stable and definitive check-list of the fauna. Studies have shown that the native freshwater f ish fauna is small, with only 27 species that can be properly regarded as "freshwater fishes". There are addi- tional introduced freshwater species and also a few marine species that regularly make their way into estuaries and need to be considered. This check-list covers all f ish species found regularly in New Zealand's f resh waters. For these species, the following information is provided: 1. Scientific name: The correct scientif ic name is given and the family to which the species belongs is listed. 2. Synonyms: Other scientific names that have been used for the species in New Zealand are listed. 3. Common name: A common name is given in the hope that standardised common names will come into general use. 4. Status: Species are listed as "Endemic" (found only in New Zealand), "lndigenous'; (native to New Zealand, but also found elsewhere), and "lntroduced" (introduced into New Zealand from elsewhere). 5. Habit: Species are listed as "Freshwater" (occur only in fresh water), "Diadromous" (spend a regular part of the life cycle in the sea), and "Marine" (marine species that regularly make their way into estuaries and fresh water). ò. Distri'bution: Distri6ution both in I ew Zealand and beyond is outlined. 7. Size attained: Greatest recorded length is given. 8. Literature: References (listed after the check-list) co¡taining further in- formation are given for each species. Cenerally only recent literature, mostly since about t960, is given unless there are older publications of major sig- nificance. A comprehensive general account of the New Zealand freshwater fish fauna may be found in McDowall (1978); this includes keys to species in all families. The freshwater fauna has been augmented in recent years by the liberation of Sig 2' rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), and there are possibly populations of koi carp (a domesticated form oÍ Cyprinus carpio) in New Zealand lakes. Two further species, the Chinese grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), are under study in relation to possible release for the control of aquatic plants. From time to time exotic aquarium fishes have been released and have become established in the wild. Key to families of fishes Althoughthischeck-list is notintendedasafield guide, it isconsideredfruitful to ¡nclude keys to enable identification and line drawings of the fishes listed. A key to families is included before the species listings, and within each family listing there is a key to species. Keys are intended to facilitate identif ication. ln the family key a simple outline drawing of a representative of each family is given to help confirm that the correct family has been found. Following the key step by step will lead to identification of the right family. As long as the d¡rections given in each pair of statements are followed, the proper identification will be obtained. ln using a key it is essential always to start at the beginning. The key consists of pairs of alternative statements only one of which can be correct. Begin at the first pair of statements; read the f irst alternative and if it does not f it, try the second. Each statement will end with either the name of a family (or species) or with a number. lf it ends with a family name, you have the family identification (check it against the outline drawing); turn to the page indicated. lf it ends with a number, find that number on the left margin of the page and there will be a further pair of alternative statements, for example: 1. Mouth a circular sucking disc with no jaws.. - family Geotriidae (lampreys) Mouth not circular, but with true iaws . - 2 lf thefishtobeidentified isalamprey (family Geotriidae),thefamily key leads straight to the family; if ¡t ¡s not a lamprey, the key statement ends with "2". tooliing below in the marginfoÍ "2", you will find that the key offers: 2. Dorsal, caudal, and anal fins joined around tail . .. - family Anguillidae (eels) Dorsal, caudal, and anal fins separate.. - 3 Again, choose alternatives according to which one applies bestto the fish you aretiyingto identifyandfollowthe numbers relentlessly untilyou reach afamily name. l. Mouth o circulor sucking disc with no iows; seven poirs of externol gill openings; no poired fins - fomily Geotriidoe poge l5 (lompreys) I species Mouth not circulor, but wilh true iows; one poir of externol gill openings; poired fins present - 2 2 Dorsol, coudol, ond onol fins ioined oround toil ond not seporoble; pelvic fins obsent; gill openings norrow slits on sides of heod; roys in fins nof obvious - fomily Anguillidoe poge ,ló (eels) 2 species t Dorsol, coudol, ond onol fins seporote; pelvic fins usuolly (but not olwoys) present; gill openings brood, exfending well below heod; roys in fins usuolly eosily seen - 3. Adipose dorsol fin present - Adipose dorsol fin obsent - 4. Stoul spines ot front edges of dorsol ond peclorol fins; scoles locking; borbels oround mouth - fomily lctoluridoe+ poge 39 ,t (cotfishes) ì species No spines in ony fins; scoles present; no borbels - 5 Royed dorsol fin origin in front of pelvic fin boses; oxillory processes ot bqses of pelvic fins; loterol line present - fomily Solmonidoe* poge 32 (trouts ond solmons) Z species Royed dorsol fin origin behind pelvic fin boses; no oxillory processes ot boses of pelvic fins; loterol line obsent - 6 Royed dorsol fin origin iust behind pelvic fin boses, well forword of origin of onol fin, dorsol fin not obove onol; teeth in upper iow rother close together, slroighl, ond blunt; lower iow shorler thon upper - fomily Prototroctidoe poge fr (groyling) ì species Royed dorsol fin origin well behind pelvic fin boses, dorsol fin portly obove onol fin; teeth in upper iow spoced, curved, ond shorp; iows equol or lower iow longer - fomily Retropinnidoe poge l8 (smelts) 2 species 7 Body very flot; both eyes on one side; one pelvic fin, ioined lo onol fin; fish lies on one side which is usuolly much poler thon eyed side - fomily Pleuronectidoe poge ól (flounders) 2 species . iì\\,\ r"\^ Body not so flot; on eye on eoch side of heod; two pelvic fins seporole from onol fin; fish swims upright with both sides coloured the some - l0 Teeth locking from iows - fomily Cyprinidoe* poge 40 (goldfish, corps, etc.) 3 species --*-- í \o",.+:jr,.- .....-r.. -. .-. Teeth present in iows - 9 One dorsol fin - r0 Two or more dorsol fins - 14 r0. Pelvic fins obdominol, well behind pectorol tins - ll Pelvic fins thorocic or iugulor, below or in front of pectorol fins - 12 I l. Scoles obsent; lolerol line presenf - fomily Goloxiidoe poge 2t (whitebo¡t, kokopu, mudfishes, etc.) ì3 species Scoles present; loterol line obsent - fomily Poeciliidoe+ poge 43 (mosquitof ish, mollies) 2 species 12. Mouth obviously upturned; eyes obviously on top of heod; no spines in dorsol fin - fomily Leptoscopidoet poge 50 (storgozer) ì species Mouth not obviously upturned; eyes dorso- loterol or loterol; spines present in dorsol fin - 13 13. Three or four very stout, short spines qt front of dorsol fin; mouth obviously inferior, shork-like; no oxillory processes with poired fins - fomily Mugiloididoe poge 5l (lorrentfish) I ì species t2 Spines ot front of dorsol fin not obruptly shorter thon those following; mouth not obviously inferior; oxillory processes on both pectorol ond pelvic fins - fomily Arripidoet poge 47 (kohowoi) I I species 14 Two dorsol fins, the first with four sptnes ond broodly seporoted from second; pelvic fins obdominol - fomily Mugilidoet oooe 48 (mullets) 2 species Iwo or more dorsol fins, close logether olong bock; pelvic fins iugulor or thorocic - ì5 '15. Three dorsol fins, scorcely seporoted; only two lhick, fleshy pelvic fin roYs - fomily Tripterygiidoet oooe 52 (cockobullies) I I +_ ì species l3 Two dorsol fins, scorcely seporoled; usuolly one spine ond five roys in pelvic fins - ló ló. Thirteen or more spines in first dorsol fin; two or more spines in onol fin; o brood. flot operculor spine present; no genitol popillo - fomily Percidoe* poge 4ó (perch) \ I species Eight or fewer spines in first dorsol fin; one spine in onol fin; no operculor spine; o smoll but well-developed genitol popillo - fomily Eleotridoe poge 53 (bu llies) ó species ' lntroduced. t Morine species moving inlo fresh woter. t4 Family Geotriidae There is only one species in this family, Ceotria austra/is. Scientific name: Ceotria austra/is Gray, 1851 . Synonyms: None. Common name: Lamprey. Status: lndigenous. Habit: Diadromous. Distribution - NewZealand: widespread in localitiesaccessible to migrants from the sea; inland penetration moderate. - elsewhere: Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Chi le, Argentina. Size attained: 600 mm.