What is a Freshwater Fish?
Fishes have a backbone, scales, are cold blooded and have gills. The majority of freshwater fishes found in Australia have migrated from marine environments many years ago.
Freshwater is critical to their survival, as all or some of their life cycle is in freshwater. Australia does not have many species of freshwater fish compared to other countries, Lake Malawi in Africa has more species than the whole of Australia.
Compared to the rest of Australia, the Kimberley is a biodiversity hotspot for freshwater fish with 52 species. There are more species of freshwater fish found in the Ord River than the entire Murray-Darling Basin! |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
What is A Freshwater Fish?
Key characteristics to look for when identifying species:
Markings and colour
Size
Shape of body
Habitat
Fins, especially shape of caudal (tail) fin and colour
There are 16 freshwater fish found only in the Kimberley.
Fish in these cards are in alphabetical order for families. Please notify kimberleytoadbusters@canetoads.com.au if any mistakes are found.
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Sleepy cod
Oxyeleotris lineolatus
Size: Max 45 cm, commonly to 20 cm.
Distinguishing features: Dark to light
brown. Unclear darker patterning.
Large snout, with flattened head and protruding jaw.
Small dark spots on caudal and dorsal fins, other fins clear. No lines across cheek.
Habitat: Quiet sections of rivers, creeks
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and billabongs. Often amongst vegetation, logs or undercut banks.
Diet: Insects, fish and crustaceans.
Distribution: Freshwater between Ord River and Noosa (QLD)
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Nyikina name
© David Morgan |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Giant Gudgeon
Oxyeleotris selheimi
Size: Maximum about 55 cm,
commonly to 30 cm.
Distinguishing features: A very large,
round dudgeon with a dorsally flattened head
and protruding lower jaw. Dark brown along back, stripes along sides. Pectoral fins have dark spots forming bands. Pelvic and anal fins spotted also.
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Habitat: Quiet sections of rivers, creeks and billabongs. Often amongst vegetation, logs or undercut banks.
Diet: Nocturnally carnivore of fish, insects and crustaceans.
Distribution: Freshwater, widely distributed across Nthn Australia.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Whipfin Silver-biddy
Gerres filamentosus
Size: Maximum 35 cm.
Distinguishing features: Oval shape.
Strongly compressed body. Protruding
mouth, like a tube when extended. Silver with
7 to 10 darker vertical stripes. Second dorsal spine can have a long filament. |
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Habitat: Coastal and some inland lakes and rivers.
Diet: Buried worms and crustaceans, plunge mouth into sediment and eject sand through gills.
Distribution: Marine/estuaries, widespread across Northern Australia
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Flathead goby
Glossogobius giurus
Size: Maximum about 14 cm.
Distinguishing features: Flattened head
and snout. Brown to tan back, with 5-6
dark saddles. 5 large square blotches along sides.
With a distinct pattern of sensory pores below eye (on
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cheek) which are clustered in multiple rows instead of single rows.
Habitat: Clear to turbid streams with rock or sand bottoms.
Diet: Insects and crustaceans.
Distribution: Freshwater, across Northern Australia.
Ref: Murdoch University, 2002 “Fishes of Lake Kununurra”
Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au
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© David Morgan
Nyikina name
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Tarpon, Oxeye Herring
Megalops cyprinoides
Size: Maximum about 130 cm,
commonly to 50 cm.
Distinguishing features: Similar to Bony
bream but with more slender body and
sharply pointed snout, not rounded. Large deeply forked caudal (tail) fin and large mouth. |
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Habitat: Juveniles and small adults frequent freshwater rivers, clear or turbid water.
Diet: Crustaceans, insects and fishes.
Distribution: Marine/estuaries, common along northern coast from WA to NSW.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
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Critically Endangered
© Dean Thorburn
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Dwarf Sawfish
Pristis clavata
Size: Maximum about 300 cm.
Distinguishing features: Similar to
Freshwater Sawfish but lacks the highly
defined groove that runs along the entire
posterior edge of the tooth into and beyond its confluence with the blade of the rostrum. 18 – 22 pairs of teeth. No fork in caudal (tail) fin. Rough skin.
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Habitat: Bottom dweller of estuaries and large rivers. Diet: Prawns and fish. Distribution: Marine/estuaries widespread across Northern Australia. Status: Listed on ICUN Red List as Critically Endangered.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Vunerable
© David Morgan |
Nyikina name |
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Freshwater Sawfish
Pristis microdon
Size: Maximum about 460 cm,
range between 76 – 250 cm.
Distinguishing features: Large ray-like fish.
Characterised by a modified snout with long,
flat blade equipped with teeth on both sides. Slight fork in (caudal) tail fin.
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Habitat: Bottom dweller of estuaries and lower reaches of large river systems.
Diet: Prawns and Fish.
Distribution: Marine/estuaries, relatively uncommon, but widespread from Kimberley to QLD coast.
Status: Vulnerable in Australia
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Stripped Butterfish, Banded Scat
Selenotoca multifasciata
Size: Maximum 28 cm
Distinguishing features: Orbicular and
laterally compressed, small scales and
sharp spines. Numerous wavy black bars on upper sides, which break up into spots on lower half.
Habitat: Mangrove areas, creeks and
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lower reaches of freshwater streams.
Diet: Detritus and small invertebrates.
Distribution: Marine/estuaries along WA, NT, QLD and NSW.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
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Spotted Scat
Scatophagus argus
Size: Maximum 33 cm.
Distinguishing features: Orbicular and
laterally compressed, small scales and
sharp spines, brown/greenish sheen with spots.
Habitat: Mangrove areas, creeks and
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lower reaches of freshwater streams.
Diet: Detritus and small invertebrates.
Distribution: Marine/estuaries along Northern WA, NT, QLD and NSW coastlines.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Barred Grunter
Amniataba percoides
Size: Maximum about 18 cm, commonly
to 10-12 cm.
Distinguishing features: Silvery white.
Series of 5-6 dark bars on sides with other blotch or patches. Fins clear to yellowish.
Habitat: Still or fast flowing, clear or turbid water.
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Diet: Aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans, fishes and frogs.
Distribution: Freshwater, widely distributed across Northern Australia.
Ref: Murdoch University, 2002 “Fishes of Lake Kununurra”
Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au
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© David Morgan
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Greenway’s Grunter
Hannia grenwayi
Size: Maximum about 14 cm, commonly
7-9 cm.
Distinguishing features: Small grunter
with relatively large scales. Golden/ silvery in colour. Darker scale edges, paler ventrally (underside).
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Habitat: Moderately to swiftly flowing streams in clear to turbid water over sandy/rocky bottoms.
Diet: Aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans and fishes.
Distribution: Freshwater, locally common in Fitzroy system.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au
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Searching for photo!Searching fo
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Long-nose Sooty Grunter
Hephaestrus epirrhinos
Size: Maximum size 42 cm.
Distinguishing features: Distinctive
Concave snout. Greenish grey in colour.
Centre of scales gold/bronze with dark edges
to scales.
Habitat: Slow flowing freshwater streams over rock.
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Diet: Crustaceans, insects and fish
Distribution: Drysdale River in National Park and Palmoondoora Creek.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Black Bream, Jenkin’s Grunter,
Sooty Grunter
Hephaestus jenkinsi
Size: Maximum about 40 cm, commonly
to 20 cm.
Distinguishing features: Colour variable
From black to greenish grey to bronze. Dark edges to scales.
White line below reddish eye. |
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Habitat: Still or flowing water, clear or turbid streams, particularly common deep rocky pools.
Diet: Invertebrates and small fish. Good fish for eating!
Distribution: Freshwater, common in Kimberley to Victoria River.
Ref: Murdoch University, 2002 “Fishes of Lake Kununurra”
Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
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Spangled Perch
Leiopotherapon unicolor
Size: Maximum about 30 cm
Distinguishing features: Elongated
with body paler ventrally to
silver, grey, or blue. Many reddish-brown spots over head and body.
Habitat: Wide range, from flowing
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streams to ephemeral waterholes, very hardy species
Diet: Aquatic and terrestrial insects and larvae
Distribution: Most widespread freshwater fish in Australia including WA, NT, QLD, NSW and SA
Ref: Murdoch University, 2002 “Fishes of Lake Kununurra”
Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au
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Weed Brim, Butler’s Grunter |
Fish 42 |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Weed Brim, Butler’s Grunter
Syncomistes butleri
Size: Maximum about 28 cm, commonly
to 18-20 cm.
Distinguishing features: Deep bodied
with relatively small head and pointed snout. Reddish eye, forked caudal (tail) fin. Distinctive silver or golden stripe below eye.
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Habitat: Fast or slow moving water, clear or turbid, mostly encountered in deeper sections of large watercourses.
Diet: Filamentous algae.
Distribution: East Kimberley to West Arnhem Land
Ref: Murdoch University, 2002 “Fishes of Lake Kununurra”
Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
Searching for photo!Searching
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Kimberley Grunter
Syncomistes kimberleyensis
Size: Maximum at least 20 cm.
Distinguishing features: Convex head
With pointed snout. Caudal (tail) fin
Slightly forked. Bluish green in colour. Silver stripe below eye to snout and dark spot on upper edge of gills.
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Habitat: Still or flowing water with aquatic vegetation.
Diet: Not well known.
Distribution: Uncommon, has only found in Durack, Pentecost and Bow Rivers.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Drysdale Grunter
Syncomistes rastellus
Size: Maximum 15 cm.
Distinguishing features: Distinct stripy
pattern of dark lines along body. Lines
faint for adult fish.
Habitat: Likes larger streams forming schools in rock pool. |
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Diet: Filamentous algae.
Distribution: Freshwater, has been found in Drysdale and Ord Rivers.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Merauke Toadfish
Marilyna meraukensis
Size: Maximum about 19 cm
Distinguishing features: Skin is tough and
scaleless. Ovate pufferfish with distinct
nasal organ (widely separate flattened pair
of nostrils). Can swallow air or water to ‘puff up’ to deter predators.
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Habitat: Mangroves and tidal influenced sections of freshwater creeks and rivers.
Distribution: Marine/estuaries, widespread from Prince Reagent River (Kimberley) to Cairns (QLD).
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au
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Nyikina name |
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© David Morgan
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Kimberley Archerfish
Toxotes spp. (formerly T.oligoleois)
Size: Maximum 18 cm.
Distinguishing features: Large eyes. 5
dark bars or ovoid spots on upper side.
Able to squirt jet of water from mouth to shoot insects out of overhanging vegetation, great shot up to 3 metres.
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Habitat: Rock pools with mud or sand bottoms, in turbid water.
Diet: Aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans and small fishes.
Distribution: Freshwater, common in Fitzroy, Meda, May and Isdel Rivers
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Seven-spot archerfish
Toxotes chatareus
Size: Maximum about 40 cm, common to 25 cm.
Distinguishing features: Large eyes.
Overall 6 – 7 irregular black blotches or
short bands on upper body. Able to squirt jet of water from mouth to shoot insects out of overhanging vegetation, great shot up to 3 metres. |
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Habitat: Near edge and surface of freshwater stream and lakes, near overhanging vegetation.
Diet: Aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans and small fishes.
Distribution: Freshwater, common through Northern Australia.
Ref: Murdoch University, 2002 “Fishes of Lake Kununurra”
Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Western Rainbow
Melanotaenia australis
Size: Maximum about 11 cm,
commonly to 8 cm.
Distinguishing features: Mid-lateral rainbow
stripes corresponding with each scale row. May have black stripes along sides depending on location.
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Habitat: Highly variable, from rivers, lakes, creeks, reservoirs, stream margins and near vegetation.
Distribution: Freshwater, usually abundant in Kimberley and Pilbara
Ref: Murdoch University, 2002 “Fishes of Lake Kununurra”
Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
© David Morgan
Searching for photo!Searching
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Exquisite Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia exquisita
Size: Maximum about 8 cm
Distinguishing features: Beautiful
light and dark rainbow stripes down each
side corresponding with each scale row. Male has red edge to fins.
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Habitat: Small, swift flowing rocky streams. Can be found above waterfalls
Distribution: King George River and also in headwaters of Daly River (NT).
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
Searching for photo!
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Slender Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia gracilis
Size: Maximum about 7 cm.
Distinguishing features: Greenish brown
back and upper sides; light purple under
side; dark mid-lateral stripe. Yellow edge to fins, males also red fins.
Habitat: Slow flowing sandy creeks lined
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with Pandanus.
Distribution: Common in Drysdale and King Edward Rivers, only in the Kimberley.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
Searching for photo!
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Blackbanded Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia nigrans
Size: Maximum about 8 cm
Distinguishing features: Body grey
brown with blue tinge. Pale on lower side.
Distinct single black mid-lateral stripe. Males can have reddish fins.
Habitat: Slow streams in rainforests, lily |
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lagoons or swamps.
Distribution: Locally common around Napier Broome Bay, NT coast and tip of Cape York.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
Searching for photo!
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Pigmy Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia pygmaea
Size: Maximum about 5.5 cm, commonly
less than 4 cm.
Distinguishing features: Small in size;
metallic blue upper sides and pale underside; blackish mid-lateral stripe; yellow to white fins; males have hump at top of head; found in schools of up to 50.
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Habitat: Pools and small streams in sandstone escarpments.
Distribution: Locally common in two tributaries of Prince Regent River.
Ref: Allen, Midgley and Allen, 2002, “Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
