Slender Carp Gudgeon, Hypseleotris ejuncida Hoese & Allen 1982

Other Names: Slender Gudgeon

Summary:

A small slender tan gudgeon with 3-4 dark brown bars between the pectoral-fin base and the second dorsal-fin origin, scales with dark margins forming a diamond-shaped pattern, a broad dark 'stripe' just below the midside, a prominent dark brown spot at end of the caudal peduncle, and a large dark brown bar on the pectoral-fin base.

Cite this page as:

Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2022, Hypseleotris ejuncida in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1165

Slender Carp Gudgeon, Hypseleotris ejuncida Hoese & Allen 1982

More Info

Distribution	Known only from a small section of the Prince Regent River in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia within Gundarara Creek approximately 2 km upstream of the confluence with the Prince Regent River. The species has also been recorded in an unnamed tributary of the lower Prince Regent River. Inhabits clear, quiet freshwater pools over sandstone substrates, usually in or around crevices near the edge. The type specimens were collected in a clear, quiet pool over a sandstone bottom at depths to about 2 m.
Features	Dorsal fin VI; I, 9-10; Anal fin I, 9-11; Caudal fin (segmented rays) 15, (branched rays) 11-13; Pectoral fin 8-13; Pelvic fin I, 5; Transverse scales usually 8-9; Gill rakers 2-3 + 1+8-9 = 11-13; Vertebrae 25. Head and body distinctly compressed, depth 5.6-6.3 in SL; caudal peduncle long, greater than second dorsal fin base. Forehead without hump in either sex. Snout short, about equal to eve diameter. Mouth small, very oblique, reaching just in front of posterior nostril; teeth small in several rows in both jaws. Tongue tip truncate. Gill opening reaching forward to below posterior preopercular margin. Head pores absent. Cheek sensory papillae normally in longitudinal rows, with few vertical rows Body scales mostly ctenoid, cycloid in patch under first dorsal fin and on head; lateral line absent; longitudinal series 28-31; scales cycloid on belly and nape. Top of head scaled forward to just behind eyes, midline of nape often scaled at least partially, 2-20 on midline, 14-20 at side of midline; operculum with large cycloid scales; cheek naked. Two dorsal fins; first dorsal low, less than body depth, fourth and fifth spines longest; second dorsal slightly higher than first; posterior rays prolonged in males, longer than third ray; short in females, about two-thirds length of third ray. Caudal fin with rounded to almost truncate margin, more rounded in males. Pelvic fins separate, long and with pointed tip reaching almost to anus.
Size	To around 6cm SL; males larger than females.
Colour	Body tan with 3-4 vertical dark brown bars between pectoral base and second dorsal fin origin; scales edged with dark brown, forming diamond-shaped pattern on body; longitudinal irregular dark brown stripe just below midside, formed from intense dark edges to scales; stripe often obscure in large dark males; prominent dark brown spot at end of caudal peduncle, extending ventrally from midside; dark brown bar at base of pectoral fin darker dorsally, covering whole pectoral base. Females generally paler with the anterior body bands more distinct than in males. Head dark brown in males, paler in females, darker body. Dorsal and anal fins dusky to black; first dorsal with pale whitish median longitudinal stripe; base of second dorsal with 1-2 rows of white spots, prominent in males, sometimes obscure in females; membranes between rays dark forming almost vertical thin stripes, crossing fin rays; second dorsal and anal fins with a pale whitish margin. Caudal fin with 4-6 thin dark brown wavy vertical lines, more prominent in females. Pectoral and pelvic fins clear to dusky.
Feeding	Feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates.
Biology	Oviparous benthic spawners. Eggs are demersal and adhesive.
Remarks	The full description appeared in Hoese & Allen (1983) after the initial publication in Allen et al (2002).
Similar Species	Differs from the closely related Hypseleotris kimberleyensis in having the predorsal and operculum usually extensively scaled, white spots and wavy bands on the second dorsal fin, dark spots forming 4-6 wavy bands on the caudal fin, and a dark bar covering the entire pectoral fin base.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin ejuncida (= slender), in reference to the slender body of this species.
Species Citation	Hypseleotris ejuncida Hoese & Allen, in Allen 1982, Inland Fishes of Western Australia: 56, fig. 6. Type locality: Gundarara Creek, about 2 km above junction with Prince Regent River (approximately 15"49'S, 125"37'E), Prince Regent Reserve, West Kimberley, Western Australia.
Author	Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2022
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Slender Carp Gudgeon, Hypseleotris ejuncida Hoese & Allen 1982

References

Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Neptune, New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 240 pp., 63 pls.

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Hoese, D.F. & Allen, G.R. in Allen, G.R. 1982. Inland Fishes of Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 86 pp. 6 figs 20 pls.

Hoese, D.F. & Allen, G.R. 1983. A review of the gudgeon genus Hypseleotris (Pisces : Eleotridae) of Western Australia, with descriptions of three new species. Records of the Western Australian Museum 10(3): 243–261 See ref online

Larson, H.K. 2007. A new species of carp gudgeon, Hypseleotris (Pisces: Gobioidei: Eleotridae), from the Katherine River system, Northern Territory. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 23: 111-117. See ref at BHL

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs.

Morgan, D.L., Allen, G.R., Pusey, B.J. & Burrows, D.W. 2011. A review of the freshwater fishes of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Zootaxa 2816: 1-64 https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2816.1.1

Morgan, D.L. & Moore, G. 2019. Hypseleotris ejuncida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T10731A129047127. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T10731A129047127.en. Accessed on 05 April 2022.

Thacker, C.E., Shelley, J.J., McCraney, W.T. et al. 2022. Phylogeny, diversification, and biogeography of a hemiclonal hybrid system of native Australian freshwater fishes (Gobiiformes: Gobioidei: Eleotridae: Hypseleotris). BMC Ecology and Evolution 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-01981-3

Thacker, C. & Unmack, P.J. 2005. Phylogeny and biogeography of the eleotrid genus Hypseleotris (Teleostei: Gobioidei: Eleotridae), with redescription of H. cyprinoides. Records of the Australian Museum 57: 1–13. htps://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.57.2005.1436