- Classification
- ACTINOPTERYGII
- PERCIFORMES
- PERCICHTHYIDAE
- Percalates
- novemaculeata
Australian Bass, Percalates novemaculeata (Steindachner 1866)
Australian Bass, Macquaria novemaculeata. Source: Tarmo Raadik. License: All rights reserved
A greenish to silver-grey bass becoming paler below, with dark grey dorsal, anal, caudal and pelvic fins. Juveniles usually have dark blotches on the fins. Australian Bass have a straight to slightly convex upper head profile, a relatively large eye, a short snout and a slightly forked tail.
Although spending most of their lives in freshwater rivers and streams, Australian Bass migrate downstream each year to spawn in estuaries.
Australian Bass, Percalates novemaculeata (Steindachner 1866)
More Info
Distribution |
Endemic to coastal rivers and estuaries in southeastern Australia, from Tin Can Bay, Queensland to about Wilsons Promontory, South Gippsland eastern Victoria. The species has been widely translocated in south-eastern Queensland. Australian Bass inhabit lakes, impoundments, rivers, small streams in upland and coastal plain wetlands including brackish estuaries. Individuals often shelter beneath overhanging vegetation, fallen trees, and aquatic vegetation, in rocky or gravel bottomed pools. |
Features |
Dorsal fin VII-IX, I, 8-11; Anal fin III, 7-9; Pectoral fin 12-16; Lateral line scales 48-55. Body elongate to oval, compressed; dorsal profile evenly arched from above eye to tail; dorsal head profile slightly concave to straight; snout somewhat tapered, of moderate length; eye moderately large, lateral in position; mouth large, terminal, oblique; gape extending to below middle of eye in adults; lower jaw protruding; jaws, vomer and palatines with bands of villiform teeth; preoperculum serrated on upper arm; strong, forward-pointing spines on lower arm; operculum with two spines, lower larger, well-defined, fairly broad. Scales of moderate size, mostly ctenoid; cheeks and operculum scaled; snout naked; 25-30 in horizontal rows; lateral line complete, follows dorsal profile. Single dorsal fin, with anterior spinous and posterior soft-rayed portions separated by moderate notch, fourth spine longest; anal fin opposite soft part of dorsal fin, with 3 stout spines; pectoral fins somewhat pointed, upper rays longer than lower rays; pelvic fins inserted just behind base of pectoral fins; caudal fin moderately forked. |
Size |
To 60 cm SL and at least 3.8 kg. |
Colour |
Dark olive to greenish-grey on dorsal surface and sides, off-white or yellowish-white below. Fins generally greyish to colourless, translucent. Pectoral fins darker at base. Anal and pelvic fins with white tips; most lateral (anterior) rays of pelvic fins white. Fish less than about 120 mm long have dark spot between opercular spines; 4-6 faint vertical bands across back and sides just behind eyes. Small fish also have darker markings on dorsal, anal and ventral fins. When freshly caught, the eyes often appear red in colour, but this disappears shortly after removal from water. |
Feeding |
Adults feed small fishes, crustaceans and other invertebrates such as insects. Juveniles feed on zooplankton. |
Biology |
Australian Bass are catadromous, and adults migrate downstream to spawn in estuaries during flood events between May and August. Females deposit small planktonic eggs onto aquatic plants and sandbars. The eggs are spherical, transparent, and non-adhesive. The larvae hatch after 2-3 days at around 2.5 mm TL. This species hybridizes with Estuary Perch, Percalates colonorum, especially within the Snowy River and Gippsland regions in eastern Bass Strait, Victoria (Shaddick et al. 2011a) |
Fisheries |
Very popular with recreational anglers, and an important aquaculture species. |
Remarks |
Only females are usually found upstream, whereas males tend to remain in the lower reaches of estuaries. |
Similar Species |
Although similar to Percalates colonorum, Australian Bass have a slightly shallower body, have darker markings on the sides, and appear duller and less silvery. The species also has a straighter dorsal head profile and the anterior rays of the pelvic fins are white rather than grey. |
Etymology |
The specific name novemaculeata is from the Latin novem (= nine) and maculeata (= spot) in reference to the dark blotches on the fins of juveniles. |
Species Citation |
Dules novemaculeatus Steindachner, 1866, Anz. Kaiser. Akad. Wissensch. 3 (7): 50. Type locality: Port Jackson, New South Wales. |
Author |
Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. 2020 |
Resources |
Australian Bass, Percalates novemaculeata (Steindachner 1866)
References
Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey.
Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. and Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia.Western Australian Museum, Perth, Western Australia
Brown, P. & Neira, F.J. 1998. Percichthyidae: basses, perches, cods. pp 259-265, in Neira, F.J., Miskiewicz, A.G. & Trnski, T. Larvae of temperate Australian fishes: laboratory guide for larval fish identification. Nedlands, Western Australia : University of Western Australia press 474 pp.
Cadwallader, P.L. & Backhouse, G.N. 1983. A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria. Melbourne: F.D. Atkinson Government Printer 249 pp.
Chenoweth, S.F. & Hughes, J.M. 1997. Genetic population structure of the catadromous Perciform: Macquaria novemaculeata (Percichthyidae). Journal of Fish Biology 50: 721–733.
Grant, E.M. 2002.Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe: E.M. Grant Pty. Limited 9th Edn 880 pp. (p. 815, in part).
Hammer, M.P., Adams, M. & Foster, R. 2012. Update to the catalogue of South Australian freshwater fishes (Petromyzontida & Actinopterygii). Zootaxa 3593: 59-74.
Harris, J.H. 1985. Diet of Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) in the Sydney Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 219–234.
Harris, J.H. 1985. Age of Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) in the Sydney Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 235–246.
Harris, J.H. 1986. Reproduction of the Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) in the Sydney Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 37: 209–235.
Harris, J.H. 1987. Growth of Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) in the Sydney Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38: 351–361.
Harris, J.H. 1988. Demography of Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Perciformes: Percichthyidae), in the Sydney Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39: 355–369.
Harris, J.H. & Rowland, S.J. 1996. Family Percichthyidae: Australian freshwater cods and basses (pp 150-163). In McDowall, R.M. (ed.)Freshwater fishes of south-eastern Australia. Reed Books, Chatswood, New South Wales.
Howell, T., Laurenson, L.J., Myers, J.H. and Jones, P.L. 2004. Spatial, temporal and size-class variation in the diet of estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum) in the Hopkins River, Victoria, Australia. Hydrobiologia 515(1-3): 29-37.
Jerry, D.R. 1998. Population genetic structure of the catadromous Australian bass from throughout its range. Journal of Fish Biology 51: 909–920.
Jerry, D.R. & Baverstock, P.R. 1998. Consequences of a catadromous life-strategy for levels of mitochondrial DNA differentiation among populations of the Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata. Molecular Ecology 7: 1003–1013.
Jerry, D.R. & Cairns, S.C. 1998. Morphological variation in the catadromous Australian bass, from seven geographically distinct riverine drainages. Journal of Fish Biology 52: 829–843.
Jerry, D.R., Elphinstone, M.S. & Baverstock, P.B. 2001. Phylogenetic relationships of Australian members of the family Percichthyidae inferred from mitochondrial 12s rRNA sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 18: 335−347.
Jerry, D.R., Raadik, T.A., Cairns, S.C. & Baverstock, P.R. 1999. Evidence for natural interspecific hybridization between the Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) and estuary perch (M. colonorum). Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 50: 661–666.
Johnson, J.W. 1999. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 43(2): 709-762. See ref at BHL
Kirwin, M.L. 2000. Age and growth of estuary perch, Macquaria colonorum (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) in the Bemm River, Eastern Victoria. Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute Internal Report No. 16.
Lavoué, S., Nakayama, K., Jerry, D.R., Yamanoue, Y., Yagishita, N., Suzuki, N., Nishida, M. & Miya, M. 2014. Mitogenomic phylogeny of the Percichthyidae and Centrarchiformes (Percomorphaceae): comparison with recent nuclear gene-based studies and simultaneous analysis. Gene 549(1): 46-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2014.07.033 (not in the Family Percichthyidae)
Mallen-Cooper, M. 1992. Swimming ability of juvenile Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Steindachner), and juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in an experimental vertical-slot fishway. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43: 823–833.
McCarraher, D.B. & J.A. McKenzie. 1986. Observations on the distribution, growth, spawning and diet of estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum) in Victorian waters. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series 42.
McDonald, C.M. 1978. Morphological and biochemical systematics of Australian freshwater and estuarine percichthyid fishes. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 29(5): 667-698 figs 1-11
Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney: J.R. Merrick 409 pp.
Musyl, M.K. & Keenan, C.P. 1992. Population genetics and zoogeography of Australian freshwater golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson 1845) (Teleostei: Percichthyidae), and electrophoretic identification of a new species from the Lake Eyre Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43(6): 1585-1601. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9921585
Schnierer, S.B. 1982. The Biology of the Australian Bass (M. novemaculeata) (F.Steindachner) in the Richmond River, Northern N.S.W. Master's Thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane Qld.
Schwartz, T.S. & Beheregaray, L.B. 2008. Using genotype simulations and Bayesian analyses to identify individuals of hybrid origin in Australian bass: lessons for fisheries management. Journal of Fish Biology 72: 435–450.
Schwartz, T.S., Jenkins, F. & Beheregaray, L.B. 2005. Microsatellite DNA markers developed for the Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) and their cross amplification in estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum). Molecular Ecology Notes 5: 519–520.
Shaddick, K., Burridge, C.B., Jerry, D.R., Schwartz, T.S., Truong, K., Gilligan, D.M. & Beheregaray, L.B. 2011. A hybrid zone and bidirectional introgression between two catadromous species: Australian bass Macquaria novemaculeata and estuary perch Macquaria colonorum. Journal of Fish Biology 79: 1214-1235.
Shaddick, K., Gilligan, D.M., Burridge, C.P., Jerry, D.R., Truong, K. & Beheregaray, L.B. 2011. Historic divergence with contemporary connectivity in a catadromous fish, the estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 68: 304-318.
Smith JA; Baumgartner LJ; Suthers IM; Taylor MD. 2011. Generalist niche, specialist strategy: the diet of an Australian percichthyid. Journal of Fish Biology 78(4): 1183-1199. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.0292
Smith JA; Baumgartner LJ; Suthers IM; Taylor MD. 2011. Distribution and movement of a stocked freshwater fish: implications of a variable habitat volume for stocking programs. Marine and Freshwater Research 62(11): 1342-1342 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MF11120
Steindachner, F. 1866. Über die Fische von Port Jackson in Australien. Anzeiger der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe 3(7): 50-54.
Stoessel, D.J., Morrongiello, J.R., Raadik, T.A., Lyon, J. & Fairbrother, P. 2018. Is climate change driving recruitment failure in Australian bass Macquaria novemaculeata in southern latitudes of the species range? Marine and Freshwater Research 69: 24-36.
Trnski, T. 2002. Behaviour of settlement-stage larvae of fishes with an estuarine juvenile phase: in situ observations in a warm-temperate estuary. Marine Ecology Progress Series 242: 205−214.
Trnski, T., Hay, A.C. & Fielder, D.S. 2005. Larval development of estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum) and Australian bass (M. novemaculeata) (Perciformes: Percichthyidae), and comments on their life history. Fishery Bulletin 103: 183-194 http://fishbull.noaa.gov/1031/trns.pdf
Unmack, P.J. 2001. Biogeography of Australian freshwater fishes. Journal of Biogeography 28: 1053-1089.
Van der Walt, B., Faragher, R.A. & Harris, J. 2005. Comparative angler catches of Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) in three major river systems in New South Wales, Australia. Asian Fisheries Science 18 (205): 175-193.
Walsh, C.T. 2012. Ecology and movement behaviour of two co-occurring estuary-dependent fishes, Macquaria colonorum and M. novemaculeata. Ph.D thesis, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/3650/
Williams, J.R. 1970. A comparison of two species of the genus Percalates Ramsey and Ogilby (Percomorphi : Macquariidae), and their taxonomy. NSW State Fisheries Bulletin 11: 1–61.