Thryssa scratchleyi
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Thryssa scratchleyi |
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| Thryssa scratchleyi | ||||||||||||
| ( Ramsay & Ogilby , 1886) |
Thryssa scratchleyi is the largest growing fish species inthe anchovy family . It occurs mainly in fresh water in some areas of Australia and New Guinea . In Australia, the species is called Freshwater Anchovy (freshwater anchovy).
features
The schooling fish reaches a maximum length of 40 centimeters, normally the fish are about 20 centimeters long. The body is completely silver colored and shimmers slightly steel blue on the back. The upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw. The dorsal fins are spanned by 12–13, the anal fin by 38–42 and the pectoral fins by 13 rays . The number of keeled scales from the neck to the anus on the abdomen is 27–31.
Distribution and way of life
Thryssa scratchleyi occurs sporadically in Australia in the catchment area of the Gulf of Carpentaria , there in the Roper River , Leichhardt River , Flinders River , Gilbert River , Mitchell River and Archer River . There are also deposits in southern central New Guinea ( Fly river system and Lorentz ).
Thryssa scratchleyi is the only Australian anchovy species that mainly lives in fresh water. The swarms prefer to stay in the deeper areas of the rivers and the associated standing water, also in the brackish water of estuaries . The fish are found in both clear and cloudy water.
It is likely that this species of anchovies reproduces in freshwater as juvenile fish have been caught in the upper reaches of some Queensland rivers. The diet of fish consists of small crustaceans, fish, insects and plant material.
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. 67-68 .
Web links
- Thryssa scratchleyi on Fishbase.org (English)