Threatened Fishes of Queensland

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1 Australia New Guinea Fishes Association Queensland Inc. Threatened Fishes of Queensland Colouring Book

2 Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis (Red finned Blue eye) and Chlamydogobius micropterus (Edgbaston Goby) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock

3 Pseudomugil mellis (Honey Blue eye) and Rhadinocentrus ornatus (Ornate Rainbowfish) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock

4 Nannoperca oxleyana (Oxleyan Pygmy Perch) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock

5 Kuhlia rupestris (Jungle Perch) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock

6 Neoceratodus forsteri (Queensland Lungfish) Illustration by Rose Levanti-Niblock

7 Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis (Red finned Blue eye) 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. Gunther Schmida

8 Chlamydogobius micropterus (Edgbaston Goby) 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. Edgbaston Gobies are listed as Vulnerable under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and as Endangered under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act. Edgbaston Gobies are a no take species. More information at Aquatic Life. Gunther Schmida

9 Pseudomugil mellis (Honey Blue eye) 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. Gunther Schmida

10 Rhadinocentrus ornatus (Ornate Rainbowfish) Ornate Rainbowfish, also known as Soft Spined Sunfish or Rhads, 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. Gunther Schmida

11 Nannoperca oxleyana (Oxleyan Pygmy Perch) 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. Gunther Schmida

12 Kuhlia rupestris (Jungle Perch) 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. Gunther Schmida

13 Neoceratodus forsteri (Queensland Lungfish) 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. Gunther Schmida

14 Produced by ANGFA (Qld) Australia New Guinea Fishes Association Queensland Inc. PO Box 8135 Woolloongabba, Australia Web Site: