Animalia Life

Nannoperca australis
FAMILY
Nannopercidae
TAXONOMY
Nannoperca australis Gьnther, 1861, Murray River, Australia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
German: Sьdaustralischer Zwergbarsch.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Total length nearly 3.5 in (9 cm). Body small and elongate with relatively large, rounded caudal fin. Color silvery or pale gold (occasionally light brown), mottled with a greenish brown hue, the fins are clear. During breeding season, males have hints of orange at base of the dorsal and caudal fins, posterior portion of belly, and above eyes. Pelvic and anal fins are marked with black. There are 7–9 spines and 7–10 soft rays in the dorsal fin, 3 spines and 7–8 soft rays in the anal fin, and 11–14 soft rays in the pectoral fin.
DISTRIBUTION
Australia, generally coastal drainages of Victoria west to mouth of the Murray River in South Australia. Also east to inland reaches of the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers in Victoria and New South Wales, and south across Bass Strait to Flinders Island, King Island, and northern Tasmania. The range has contracted because of human interference with natural river flows.
HABITAT
Frequents submerged and emerging shoreline vegetation in streams, drains, billabongs of larger rivers, swamps, and reservoirs. Prefers still or slightly flowing water.
BEHAVIOR
Forms small groups.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Prefers small crustaceans, and larval and adult insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Probably matures after the first year and lives as long as five years. Likely moves to preferred spawning sites to spawn demersal eggs in small batches over the course of the season (September to January).
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN, but vulnerable to habitats destruction.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
May be collected for aquaria or for use as bait. An important prey of introduced species of game fishes.

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