Lorentz Grunter, Pingalla lorentzi (Weber 1910)


Other Names: Lorentz's Grunter

Lorentz Grunter, Pingalla lorentzi. Source: Dave Wilson. License: all rights reserved

Summary:
Body silvery, darker above, paler below, with dark scale margins dorsally, a white stripe from the mouth to below the eye, anal fin with a pale margin.

Cite this page as:
Martin F. Gomon, Pingalla lorentzi in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/700

Lorentz Grunter, Pingalla lorentzi (Weber 1910)

More Info


Distribution

Occurs from the Finnis River, NT and Cockatoo Creek (11º40´S) to the Jardine River (11º10´S), QLD in northern Australia and in New Guinea. Inhabits small to large pools in freshwater streams, usually in the open, unshaded sections with rocky or sandy bottoms.

Features

Meristic features: Dorsal fin XIII-XIV, 11.13; Anal fin III, 8-9; Pectoral fin 15; Pelvic fin I, 5; Lateral line scales 48-54; Transverse scales 6-7/1/13-14; Gill rakers 6+1+11-12; Vertebrae 11+14.

Body moderately deep, 2.3-2.5 in SL, ovate, compressed; dorsal profile more pronounced than ventral, straight from snout to dorsal origin; ventral profile straight or slightly convex to pelvic insertion, then straight to anus. Head length 2.6-3.6 in SL; snout length 3.1-3.2 in SL; eye width 3.6-4.5 in HL. Interorbital region smooth.  Mouth small, practically nonprotractile, posterior end of maxillary strongly curved ventrally; jaws equal or upper slightly longer; length 4.0-4.5 in HL; gape oblique; maxillary reaching to middle of snout, approximately to vertical through region between anterior and posterior nostrils; teeth depressible, distinctly flattened, brown-tipped; 2 rows of dentition in each jaw, outer row distinctly enlarged, inner row smaller, less flattened, embedded in fleshy tissue; no teeth on vomer or palatines. Lacrimal serrate posteriorly. Preoperculum serrate; serrations strongest on vertical edge. Lower opercular spine stronger and longer; not extending beyond edge of opercular lobe. Posttemporal exposed; serrate along posterior edge. Cleithrum exposed; serrate posteriorly; scales on side. Supracleithrum exposed.

Scales finely ctenoid; lateral line continuous, smoothly curved; 5-6 scales on caudal; scales above lateral line; scales below lateral line-, 11 pre dorsal scales to occiput; two irregular series of scales in sheath at base of dorsal fin, sheath extending to seventh or eighth dorsal ray; three rows of scales in sheath at base of anal fin, sheath extending to fifth anal ray; cheek scales in five rows..

Dorsal fin continuous, base  1.6-1.8 in SL; spinous portion strongly arched; first spine very short; fifth to seventh spine longest, 1.7-2.0 in HL, those following decreasing in length to penultimate, which is slightly longer than last; longest dorsal spines longer than longest dorsal rays, longest dorsal ray 2.0-2.1 in HL, soft dorsal with posterior edge straight; corners rounded. Second anal spine longest, 1.7-2.0 in HL, twice as long as first spine; not as long as longest anal rays, longest anal ray 1.8-2.2 in HL; soft anal rounded. Pectoral fins asymmetrically pointed; fourth ray longest. Pelvic fins pointed; first ray longest; slightly filamentous; reaching to anus or falling slightly short. Caudal fin emarginate.

Size

To around 21 cm SL.

Colour

Body uniformly dark, especially along back; scales of side and belly with a central silvery hue. Head dark above, paler ventrally. Dorsal fin dusky with paler margins. Anal fin dusky, edges pale. Pectoral and pelvic fins dusky.

Feeding

Omnivores - feeds primarily on benthic algae, which is scraped from rocks and woody debris with flattened teeth.

Biology

Oviparous demersal spawners. Spawning is likely to occur from November to February.

Etymology

The name lorentzi honours H. A. Lorentz, a member of the expedition that collected the type series.

Species Citation

Helotes lorentzi Weber, 1910, Notes Leyden Mus. 32(4): 236. Type locality: Lorentz River, New Guinea.

Author

Martin F. Gomon

Lorentz Grunter, Pingalla lorentzi (Weber 1910)

References


Allen, G.R. & Hoese, D.F. (1980). A collection of fishes from the Jardine River, Cape York Peninsula, Australia. J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 63(2): 53–61 figs 1–2.

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

Vari, R.P. (1978). The terapon perches (Percoidei, Terapontidae) a cladistic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 159(5): 175–340 figs 1–94.

Weber, M. (1910). Neue Fische aus Niederländisch Süd-Neu-Guinea. Notes Leyden Mus. 32(4): 225–240 fig. 3

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37321022

Habitat:Freshwater

Max Size:21 cm SL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map