Mogurnda clivicola | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gobiiformes |
Family: | Eleotridae |
Genus: | Mogurnda |
Species: | M. clivicola
|
Binomial name | |
Mogurnda clivicola
G. R. Allen &
A. P. Jenkins, 1999
|
Mogurnda clivicola, commonly known as the Flinders Ranges mogurnda, Flinders Ranges purple-spotted gudgeon, Barcoo, or Bulloo mogurnda, [2] is a central Australian gudgeon of the family Eleotridae.
Flinders Ranges gudgeons are found in permanent water in an isolated set of spring-fed creeks in the southern Gammon Ranges National Park in the arid South Australian outback. [3] These creeks are often in very steep-sided, rocky gorges. [2] [3] This fish's habitat is usually isolated into separate pools and then subject to floods that change the water level by several metres.[ citation needed]
These fish have also been recorded in samples taken from the Barcoo and Bulloo Rivers in Queensland away from the main population, in the very different habitat of larger, muddy-bottomed rivers. [2] [3]
Flinders Ranges mogurndas are medium-sized fish, with a maximum total length around 13 cm. [3] [4] [I] They are dark with a fine mottling of dark grey blotches on the upper side with semi-translucent fins. Usually their body is a paler colour underneath. These fish have a series of burnt orange-coloured stripes running backwards down their cheeks looking like warpaint. Roughly around the lateral line is a display of burnt orange-coloured spots interspersed with paler spots, with a single darker spot on the caudal peduncle. Males develop spectacular spawning colours in summer, namely a more brilliant display of orange spots along the side and to the tail. The anal and spiny and soft dorsal fins are edged with a tiny, iridescent, blue-white stripe. These stripes are somewhat subtle on most of the fins, but are prominent and eye-catching on the spiny dorsal fin. The males also develop a large amount of fat on the top of their heads, giving them a bulbous appearance.[ citation needed]
These fish have, in recent times been victims of a dramatic, piebald discolouration of unknown origin.[ citation needed]
In the Flinders Ranges, M. clivicola is the only species of fish found in the rocky pools which they inhabit. [2] They will bask lying on the shallow shelves of deeper rock pools, with their tails to one side.[ citation needed] From above, in this position, they closely resemble the fallen gum leaves on the substrate. In the Barcoo River, the species usually co-exists with up to 10 other fish species in the typically mud-bottomed lowland streams of that system. [2] Their predators consist mostly of larger birds.[ citation needed] They are presumed to be ambush predators. [2] Tadpoles, insects, and other macroinvertebrates probably form a large part of their diet.[ citation needed] Breeding and spawning is a complex ritual spread over days. [2] These fish spawn when the water temperature reaches 20 °C or higher. [2] [3] The males care for the eggs and guard and fan them with their pectoral fins. [2] The males' behaviour becomes quite territorial and aggressive during breeding season. They have been known to chase the other fish around.[ citation needed]
{{
cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Mogurnda clivicola | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gobiiformes |
Family: | Eleotridae |
Genus: | Mogurnda |
Species: | M. clivicola
|
Binomial name | |
Mogurnda clivicola
G. R. Allen &
A. P. Jenkins, 1999
|
Mogurnda clivicola, commonly known as the Flinders Ranges mogurnda, Flinders Ranges purple-spotted gudgeon, Barcoo, or Bulloo mogurnda, [2] is a central Australian gudgeon of the family Eleotridae.
Flinders Ranges gudgeons are found in permanent water in an isolated set of spring-fed creeks in the southern Gammon Ranges National Park in the arid South Australian outback. [3] These creeks are often in very steep-sided, rocky gorges. [2] [3] This fish's habitat is usually isolated into separate pools and then subject to floods that change the water level by several metres.[ citation needed]
These fish have also been recorded in samples taken from the Barcoo and Bulloo Rivers in Queensland away from the main population, in the very different habitat of larger, muddy-bottomed rivers. [2] [3]
Flinders Ranges mogurndas are medium-sized fish, with a maximum total length around 13 cm. [3] [4] [I] They are dark with a fine mottling of dark grey blotches on the upper side with semi-translucent fins. Usually their body is a paler colour underneath. These fish have a series of burnt orange-coloured stripes running backwards down their cheeks looking like warpaint. Roughly around the lateral line is a display of burnt orange-coloured spots interspersed with paler spots, with a single darker spot on the caudal peduncle. Males develop spectacular spawning colours in summer, namely a more brilliant display of orange spots along the side and to the tail. The anal and spiny and soft dorsal fins are edged with a tiny, iridescent, blue-white stripe. These stripes are somewhat subtle on most of the fins, but are prominent and eye-catching on the spiny dorsal fin. The males also develop a large amount of fat on the top of their heads, giving them a bulbous appearance.[ citation needed]
These fish have, in recent times been victims of a dramatic, piebald discolouration of unknown origin.[ citation needed]
In the Flinders Ranges, M. clivicola is the only species of fish found in the rocky pools which they inhabit. [2] They will bask lying on the shallow shelves of deeper rock pools, with their tails to one side.[ citation needed] From above, in this position, they closely resemble the fallen gum leaves on the substrate. In the Barcoo River, the species usually co-exists with up to 10 other fish species in the typically mud-bottomed lowland streams of that system. [2] Their predators consist mostly of larger birds.[ citation needed] They are presumed to be ambush predators. [2] Tadpoles, insects, and other macroinvertebrates probably form a large part of their diet.[ citation needed] Breeding and spawning is a complex ritual spread over days. [2] These fish spawn when the water temperature reaches 20 °C or higher. [2] [3] The males care for the eggs and guard and fan them with their pectoral fins. [2] The males' behaviour becomes quite territorial and aggressive during breeding season. They have been known to chase the other fish around.[ citation needed]
{{
cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)