Family PSEUDOMUGILIDAE

Common name: Blue eyes

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Summary:
Small colourful mostly freshwater fishes with slender compressed bodies, large eyes with an electric-blue iris, and a small subvertical mouth. Scales are relatively large, cycloid, in 5-6 rows. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 3-4 spines; pectoral fins set high on the body, pelvic fins abdominal. Males and females are sexually dimorphic. Males often have brilliantly-coloured fins, especially while breeding, with the dorsal, anal and pelvic fin rays often extended into filaments. Blue-eyes are very popular aquarium fishes and many species only reach 4 to 5 cm.

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Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Blue eyes, PSEUDOMUGILIDAE in Fishes of Australia, accessed 14 Oct 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/family/215

More Info

Family Taxonomy

 The family contains two genera and approximately 15 species; 7 species are known from Australia. The blue-eyes were reviewed by Allen & Cross (1982) and Saeed, Ivantsoff & Allen (1989), and were previously grouped with the family Melanotaeniidae or rainbowfishes.

Family Distribution

 Blue-eyes are found in coastal drainages of northern and eastern Australia, and on Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya and on several surrounding islands. Although most species inhabit freshwater streams, lakes, swamps, some are also found in tidal mangrove creeks, estuaries and even in marine areas on offshore islands.

Family Size

To 5 cm SL.

Family Feeding

 Omnivores, feeding on microcrustaceans, small insects and algae.

Family Reproduction

Often breed year-round, with females attaching their adhesive eggs to vegetation.

Family Commercial

 Blue-eyes are popular aquarium fishes and a number of species are available in the aquarium industry.

Family Conservation

 A number of species are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN Red List).

Author

 Dianne J. Bray

References

Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey.

Allen, G.R. & Cross, N.J. 1982. Rainbowfishes of Australia and Papua-New Guinea. New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 142 pp. figs.

Allen, G.R., S.H. Midgley & M. Allen. 2002. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth, Western Australia. 394 p.

Ivantsoff, W. 1999. Order Atheriniformes. Pseudomugilidae. Blue eyes. p. 2109-2112. In : K.E. Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome.

Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian freshwater fishes: biology and management. Griffin Press Ltd., South Australia. 409 p.

Saeed, B., Ivantsoff, W. & Allen, G.R. 1989. Taxonomic revision of the family Pseudomugilidae (Order Atheriniformes). Aust. J. Mar. Freshw. Res. 40: 719–787.

White, B.N., R.J. Lavenberg & G.E. McGowen. 1984. Atheriniformes: development and relationships. p. 355-362. In Moser et al. Ontogeny and systematics of fishes. Spec. Publ. Am. Soc. Ichthyol. Herpetol. (1): 1-760.

Wong, B.B.M., J.S. Keogh & D.J.M Glashan. 2004. Current and historical patterns of drainage connectivity in eastern Australia inferred from population genetic structuring in a widespread freshwater fish Pseudomugil signifer (Pseudomugilidae) Molecular Ecology 13: 391–401.