Southern Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca australis Günther 1861


Other Names: Southern Pigmy Perch, Tasmanian Pigmy Perch
Southern Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca australis, from Darby River, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria

Southern Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca australis, from Darby River, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, October 2011. Source: David Paul / Museums Victoria. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:

A small freshwater fish found in south-eastern Australia, with a deeply notched long-based dorsal fin, a small mouth, and a squarish to slightly rounded tail. Southern Pygmy Perch have a non-serrated preorbital bone and a round pupil. Breeding males develop brilliant red fins.

Southern Pygmy Perch usually occur amongst aquatic vegetation in a wide range of environments. The species has a patchy distribution due population declines in recent years - especially in New South Wales.

Video: research on Southern Pygmy Perch in New South Wales.


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. 2023, Nannoperca australis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1828

Southern Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca australis Günther 1861

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to drainages of the southern part of the Murray-Darling Basin, the south-east coast of Victoria, South Australian Gulf region, northern Tasmania, and King and Flinders Islands in Bass Strait. This species has experienced significant range reductions since the European settlement, especially in the Murray-Darling Basin, and populations are severely fragmented. 

Historically in New South Wales, Southern Pygmy Perch were widespread throughout the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers systems. The species is now restricted to only three areas, including Blakney Creek, in the Lachlan River catchment northeast of Yass.

Southern Pygmy Perch inhabit a wide range of well-vegetated slow-flowing aquatic environments. These include still or gently flowing streams, lakes, billabongs, drains, dams, swamps and ephemeral creeks and wetlands, where they tend to be found around the vegetated margins. Southern Pygmy Perch rarely occur in fast-flowing areas.

Features

Dorsal fin VII-IX, 7-10; Anal fin III, 7-8; Pectoral fin 11-14 (usually 12-13).

Body oblong, moderately compressed; dorsal profile curved, ventral profile somewhat flattened; head large, dorsal profile slightly convex, snout rounded; eye of moderate size, dorso-lateral; mouth terminal, slightly oblique, protractile, of moderate size; jaw reach back past front, almost to middle of eye; jaws and palatines with narrow bands of villiform teeth, vomer with a large patch; preorbital bone rounded, with smooth edge; numerous distinct pores on mandible, preopercular margin, snout, upper surface of head and above operculum; operculum with two flat spines.

Scales large ctenoid; scales absent from interorbital space, opercula, cheeks, snout and lower jaw; lateral line present, consisting of irregular series of pored scales.

Single dorsal fin consisting of anterior spiny section and posterior soft section separated by deep notch; anal fin opposite and similar to soft part of dorsal fin; pectoral fins small, rounded, low on sides; ventral fins small, pointed, positioned well forward on abdomen; caudal fin large, rounded.

Size

To 10 cm TL, 8.5 cm SL, commonly to 6 cm SL

Colour

Body brownish-green, darker dorsally, paler below, with dark scale margins; dark brown-black spots form two indistinct, horizontal bands along body, one above, one below lateral line; lower band continuing through eye.

Individuals become more brightly coloured during the breeding season, with males displaying brighter red and darker black colourations than females. The fin margins, ventral edge of the caudal peduncle, area around the anus, ventral surface between the pectoral fins and the chin become black. Breeding males also have red on top of the eye, an incomplete reddish-orange mid-lateral stripe and dark fins with brilliant reddish tinges. 

Feeding

Feeds on a range of small aquatic crustaceans, insects and insect larvae.

Biology

The sexes are separate and fertilisation is external. Southern Pygmy Perch reach sexual maturity in their first year, when males grow to lengths of about 30 mm and females about 33 mm. Spawning occurs from late winter to early spring when water temperatures rise above 16 degs C. 

During the breeding season, males defend a small territory. Following courtship, females spawn batches of eggs amongst aquatic vegetation within the male's territory. Each female can produce up 4000 small, transparent, spherical, non-adhesive eggs that measure about 1.25 mm in diameter.

The larvae hatch at 3-4 mm TL after 2-4 days following fertilisation. 

Morrongiello et al. (2012) found that Southern Pygmy Perch populations inhabiting increasingly harsh streams produced more numerous and smaller eggs. They also found that within-female egg size variability increased as environments became more unpredictable.

Fisheries


Conservation

New South Wales: listed as endangered under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

South Australia: protected under the SA Fisheries Act 2007.

Victoria: listed as Vulnerable on the Advisory list of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria.

Although widespread and locally common in Victorian coastal drainages, the species has declined in overall range and abundance since European settlement. In the Murray Darling Basin, Southern Pygmy Perch are now rare. 

Southern Pygmy Perch were once widespread in the Murray and lower Murrumbidgee catchments of New South Wales, however, the species has now disappeared from most areas in the State.

Threats include habitat degradation - loss of riparian and instream vegetation, increased sedimentation, poor water quality, river regulation reducing permanent floodplain habitats and opportunity for dispersal, drought and flooding. The species is threatened by predation from introduced fishes such as Redfin, Perca fluviatilis, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Eastern Gambusia, Gambusia holbrooki, is also a major threat. Common Carp alsp represent a major threat due to habitat degradation and competition. 

Captive breeding programs have been undertaken in NSW and SA.

Remarks

Recent genetic studies have revealed that Nannoperca australis comprises two cryptic species - an eastern coastal species and a species occurring the Murray Darling Basin and western coastal streams.

Similar Species

Southern Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca australis differ from Yarra Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca obscura, in having a larger mouth reaching to below the eye, non-serrated preorbital bone and in having a round pupil rather than one which is notched. Fins of breeding males are bright red (compared to black in N. obscura).

Southern Pygmy Perch differ from Variegated Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca variegata, in having scales on top of the head, and the second dorsal-fin spine longer than the third spine. 

Etymology

The specific name australis means "southern" in reference to the distribution of this species.

Species Citation

Nannoperca australis Günther 1861,  Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1861: 116. Type locality: Murray River, Australia.

Author

Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. 2023

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Southern Pygmy Perch, Nannoperca australis Günther 1861

References


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Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37311218

Conservation:IUCN Near Threatened

Fishing:Aquarium fish

Habitat:Freshwater

Max Size:10 cm TL

Native:Endemic

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