Australian freshwater herring
| Australian freshwater herring | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Nematalosa erebi | ||||||||||||
| ( Günther , 1868) |
The Australian freshwater herring ( Nematalosa erebi ) is one of two species from the herring family (Clupeidae) that are predominantly found in the freshwater of Australia . The shoal-forming , silvery fish is called there Bony Bream .
features
The fish of this species can be up to 32 cm long, but mostly it is only 15 to 20 cm. The mouth is blunt, the dorsal fin is elongated at the rear, the body is relatively high-backed and silvery in color. Sometimes it turns gray or greenish towards the back. There is no sideline.
The dorsal fin consists of 14–19, the anal fin of 17–27, the pectoral fins of 14–18 and the pelvic fins of 8 fin rays . The number of vertical rows of scales is 40–46.
Distribution and habitat
The Australian freshwater herring is one of the most common and common fish in the interior of Australia. There it occurs in waters that drain into the Indian Ocean ( Pilbara ), the Timor Sea or the Gulf of Carpentaria as well as in waters of the northeast coast, in the Murray-Darling Basin and in the catchment area of Lake Eyre .
The adaptable fish occur in different habitats . Most of them are flat and standing areas of often murky rivers. The fish also live in water holes or in artesian springs in the desert or in larger, sometimes salty lakes. The Australian freshwater herring tolerates water temperatures of 9 to 38 ° C and pH values of 4.8 to 8.6. Although they can tolerate large variations in temperature and pH, they are relatively sensitive to a lack of oxygen, as they are the first species of fish to die when the temporary waters typical of interior Australia begin to dry up.
Way of life
The Australian freshwater herring live in schools near the bottom of the water, where they graze on growing algae. They also eat detritus and small invertebrates.
In the south of the range, reproduction takes place from the Australian spring to early summer. In the north of the range, reproduction can also take place two or three times a year. Large quantities of small, floating eggs are ejected on the surface.
literature
- G. Allen, S. Midgley, M. Allen: Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia . 2nd Edition. Western Australian Museum, Perth 2003, ISBN 0-7307-5486-3 , pp. 64-65 .