A taxonomic Summary of Australian Freshwater Fish

Last updated 27 December 2004

This is intended to be a comprehensive list of all species of freshwater fish found in Australia. If you find something that is incorrect or omitted, please drop me an e-mail at and let me know about it.

FAMILY
	Species	Common Name	Distribution	Conservation Status

AMBASSIDAE (GLASSFISHES)
	Ambassis agrammus	Sailfin Glassfish	QLD, NT
	Ambassis agassizii	Agassiz's Glassfish	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD
	Ambassis mulleri	Mueller's Glassfish	SA, QLD, NT, WA
	Ambassis elongatus	Elongate Glassfish	QLD
	Ambassis macleayi	Macleay's Glassfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Ambassis miops	Flag-Tailed Glassfish	QLD
	Denariusa bandata	Pennyfish	QLD, NT
	Parambassis gulliveri	Giant Glassfish	QLD, NT, WA

ANGUILLIDAE (FRESHWATER EELS)
	Anguilla australis	Shortfinned Eel	SA, VIC, NSW
	Anguilla bicolor	Northern Eel	WA
	Anguilla obscura	South Pacific Eel	QLD
	Anguilla reinhardtii	Longfinned Eel	TAS, VIC, NSW, QLD

APLOCHITONIDAE (WHITEBAIT)
	Lovettia sealii	Tasmanian Whitebait	TAS, VIC	Rare (VIC)

ARIIDAE (FORK-TAILED CATFISHES)
	Arius berneyi	Berney's Catfish	QLD, NT
	Arius graeffei	Lesser Salmon Catfish	NSW, QLD, NT, WA
	Arius leptaspis	Triangular Shield Catfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Arius midgleyi	Shovel-Nosed Catfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Cinetodus froggatti	Froggatt's Catfish	NT

ATHERINIDAE (HARDYHEADS OR SILVERSIDES)
	Atherinosoma microstoma	Small-Mouthed Hardyhead	SA, VIC, TAS, NSW
	Craterocephalus cuneiceps	Murchison River Hardyhead	WA
	Craterocephalus dalhousiensis	Dalhousie Hardyhead	SA
	Craterocephalus eyresii	Lake Eyre Hardyhead	VIC, NSW, QLD, NT, SA
	Craterocephalus fluviatilis	Murray Hardyhead	SA, VIC, NSW	Vulnerable (AUST), Rare (VIC)
	Craterocephalus marjoriae	Marjorie's Hardyhead	NSW, QLD
	Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum	Fly-specked Hardyhead	QLD, NT
	Craterocephalus helenae	Drysdale Hardyhead	WA
	Craterocephalus lentiginosus	Prince Regent Hardyhead	WA
	Leptatherina wallacei	Western Hardyhead	WA
	Quirichthys stramineus	Strawman or Blackmast	QLD, NT, WA

APOGONIDAE (FRESHWATER CARDINALFISHES)
	Glossamia aprion	Mouth Almighty	QLD, NT, WA
	Glossamia aprion gillii	Southern Mouth Almighty	NSW, QLD

BELONIDAE (NEEDLEFISHES)
	Strongylura krefftii	Freshwater Longtom	QLD, NT, WA

BOVICHTHYIDAE (CONGOLLIS)
	Pseudaphritis urvillii	Tupong	SA, TAS, VIC, NSW

CERATODIDAE (AUSTRALIAN LUNGFISHES)
	Neoceratodus forsteri	Queensland Lungfish	QLD

CLUPEIDAE (HERRINGS)
	Nematalosa erebi	Bony Bream	VIC, NSW, QLD, NT, WA, SA	Rare (VIC)
	Potamalosa richmondia	Freshwater Herring	VIC, NSW	Endangered (VIC)

ELEOTRIDIDAE (GUDGEONS)
	Gobiomorphus australis	Striped Gudgeon	VIC, NSW, QLD
	Gobiomorphus coxii	Cox's Gudgeon	VIC, NSW
	Hypseleotris aurea	Golden Gudgeon	WA
	Hypseleotris compressa	Empire Gudgeon	VIC, NSW, QLD, NT, WA	Rare (VIC)
	Hypseleotris ejuncida	Slender Gudgeon	WA	Poorly Known (AUST)
	Hypseleotris galii	Fire-Tailed Gudgeon	NSW, QLD
	Hypseleotris kimberleyensis	Barnett River Gudgeon	WA	Poorly Known (AUST)
	Hypseleotris klunzingeri	Western Carp Gudgeon	SA, VIC, QLD
	Hypseleotris regalis	Prince Regent Gudgeon	WA
	Hypseleotris sp.1	Midgley's Carp Gudgeon	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD
	Hypseleotris sp.2	Lake's Carp Gudgeon	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD
	Milyeringa veritas	Blind Gudgeon	WA	Rare (AUST)
	Mogurnda adspersa	Southern Purple-Spotted Gudgeon	VIC, NSW, QLD	Rare (AUST), Endangered (VIC)
	Mogurnda clivcola	Flinders Ranges Gudgeon	SA, Possibly QLD	Endangered (AUST)
	Mogurnda larapintae	Finke Gudgeon	NT
	Mogurnda mogurnda	Northern Purple-Spotted Gudgeon	SA, NSW, QLD, NT, WA
	Mogurnda oligolepis	False-Spotted Gudgeon	WA
	Mogurnda thermophila	Dalhousie Gudgeon	SA
	Mogurnda sp	Frew Mogurnda	NT	Restricted(?)
	Ophieleotris aporos	Snakehead Gudgeon	QLD
	Oxyeleotris aruensis	Aru Gudgeon	QLD
	Oxyeleotris lineolatus	Sleepy Cod	QLD, NT
	Oxyeleotris nullipora	Poreless Gudgeon	QLD
	Oxyeleotris fimbriata	Fimbrate Gudgeon	QLD
	Oxyeleotris sp.	Giant Gudgeon	NT, WA
	Philypnodon grandiceps	Flathead Gudgeon	SA, TAS, VIC, NSW, QLD
	Philypnodon sp.	Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD
	Kimberleyeleotris notata	Drysdale Gudgeon	WA
	Kimberleyeleotris hutchinsi	Mitchell Gudgeon	WA

GADOPSIDAE (RIVER BLACKFISHES)
	Gadopsis bispinosis	Two-Spined Blackfish	VIC, NSW, ACT
	Gadopsis marmoratus	River Blackfish	SA, VIC, NSW, ACT

GALAXIIDAE (GALAXIAS OR NATIVE MINNOWS)
	Galaxias auratus	Golden Galxias	TAS
	Galaxias brevipinnis	Climbing Galaxias	SA, TAS, VIC, NSW	Rare (VIC)
	Galaxias fontanus	Swan Galaxias	TAS, VIC	Endangered (AUST, VIC)
	Galaxias fuscus	Barred Galaxias	VIC	Endangered (AUST)
	Galaxias johnstoni	Clarance Galaxias	TAS	Endangered (AUST, TAS)
	Galaxias maculatus	Common Galaxias	WA, SA,VIC, TAS, NSW, QLD
	Galaxias occidentalis	Western Galaxias	WA
	Galaxias olidus	Mountain Galaxias	SA, VIC, NSW, ACT	Insufficiently Known (VIC)
	Galaxias pederensis	Pedder Galaxias	TAS	Endangered (AUST, TAS)
	Galaxias rostratus	Flat-headed Galaxias	SA, VIC, NSW
	Galaxias tanycephalus	Saddled Galaxias	TAS	Vulnerable (AUST, TAS)
	Galaxias truttaceus	Spotted Galaxias	WA, TAS, VIC	Rare (VIC)
	Galaxiella munda	Mud Minnow	WA
	Galaxiella nigrostriata	Black-Stripe Minnow	WA
	Galaxiella pusilla	Dwarf Galaxias	SA, TAS, VIC	Vulnerable (AUST, VIC), Rare (Susceptible (TAS)
	Neochanna cleaveri	Tasmanian Mudfish	TAS, VIC	Endangered (AUST, TAS)
	Paragalaxias dissimilis	Shannon Paragalxias	TAS
	Paragalaxias eleotroides	Great Lake Darter	TAS
	Paragalaxias julianus	Julian Paragalaxias	TAS
	Paragalaxias mesotes	Arthurs Paragalaxias	TAS	Rare (AUST)

GEOTRIIDAE (SOUTHERN LAMPREYS)
	Geotria australis	Pouched Lamprey	WA, SA,VIC, TAS

GOBIIDAE (GOBIES)
	Awaous crassilabras	Roman Nose Goby	QLD
	Chlamydogobius eremius	Desert Goby	SA, QLD, NT
	Chlamydogobius micropterus	Elizabeth Springs Goby	NT	Endangered (AUST)
	Glossogobius aureus	Golden Goby	QLD, NT
	Glossogobius celebius	Celebes Goby	QLD
	Glossogobius concavifrons	Concave Goby	QLD
	Glossogobius giurus	Flathead Goby	QLD, NT, WA
	Glossogobius sp.1	Dwarf Goby	QLD
	Glossogobius sp.2	Mulgrave Goby	QLD
	Glossogobius sp.3	Square-Bloth Goby	QLD, NT, WA
	Pseudogobius olorum	Swan River Goby	WA, SA, VIC, NSW, QLD
	Redigobius bikolanus	Speckled Goby	QLD
	Schismatigibias sp.	Scaleless Goby	QLD

HEMIRAMHIDAE (HALFBEAKS)
	Arrhamphus sclerolepis	Snub-Nosed Garfish	NSW, QLD, NT, WA

KUHLIIDAE (FLAG-TAILS)
	Kuhlia rupestris	Jungle Perch	QLD

KURTIDAE (NURSEYFISHES)
	Kurtus gulliveri	Nurseryfish	QLD, NT, WA

LEPIDOGALAXIIDAE (SALAMANDERFISH)
	Lepidogalaxias salamandroides	Salamanderfish	WA

MELANOTAENIIDAE (RAINBOWFISHES)
	Cairnsichthys rhombosomoides	Cairns Rainbowfish	QLD
	Iriatherina werneri	Threadfin Rainbowfish	QLD
	Melanotaenia duboulayi	Duboulay's Rainbowfish	NSW, QLD
	Melanotaenia eachamensis	Lake Eacham Rainbowfish	QLD	Endangered (AUST)
	Melanotaenia exquisita	Exquisite Rainbowfish	NT
	Melanotaenia fluviatilis	Crimson-Spotted Rainbowfish	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD	Rare (VIC)
	Melanotaenia gracilis	Slender Rainbowfish	WA
	Melanotaenia maccullochi	McCulloch's Rainbowfish	QLD
	Melanotaenia nigrans	Black-Banded Rainbowfish	QLD, NT
	Melanotaenia pygmaea	Pygmy Rainbowfish	WA	Rare (AUST)
	Melanotaenia splendida splendida	Australian Rainbowfish	QLD
	Melanotaenia splendida inornata	Checkered Rainbowfish	QLD, NT
	Melanotaenia splendida australis	Western Rainbowfish	NT, WA
	Melanotaenia splendida tatei	Desert Rainbowfish	SA, QLD, NT
	Melanotaenia trifasciata	Banded Rainbowfish	QLD, NT
	Rhadinocentrus ornatus	Ornate Rainbowfish	NSW, QLD

MORDACHIDAE (SHORT HEADED LAMPREYS)
	Mordacia mordax	Short-Headed Lamprey	SA, VIC, NSW
	Mordacia praecox	Non-parasitic Lamprey	NSW	Poorly Known (AUST)

MUGILIDAE (MULLETS)
	Myxus petardi	Freshwater Mullet	NSW, QLD

NANNOPERCIDAE (PYGMY PERCHES)
	Edelia vittata	Western Pygmy Perch	WA
	Nannatherina balstoni	Balston's Pygmy Perch	WA
	Nannoperca australis	Southern Pygmy Perch	SA, TAS, VIC, NSW
	Nannoperca obscura	Yarra Pygmy Perch	VIC	Vulnerable (AUST, VIC)
	Nannoperca oxleyana	Oxleyan Pygmy Perch	NSW, QLD	Endangered (AUST)
	Nannoperca variagata	Ewen's Pygmy Perch	SA, VIC	Vulnerable (AUST), Endangered (VIC)

OSTEOGLOSSIDAE (BONY TONGUES)
	Scleropages jardinii	Gulf Saratoga	QLD, NT
	Scleropages leichardti	Saratoga	QLD

PERCICHTHYIDAE (FRESHWATER BASSES AND CODS)
	Bostockia porosa	Nightfish	WA
	Guyu wujalwujalensis	Bloomfield River Cod	QLD	Restricted Range
	Maccullochella macquariensis	Trout Cod	VIC, NSW	Endangered (AUST, VIC)
	Maccullochella peelii peelii	Murray Cod	SA, VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD	Vulnerable (VIC)
	Maccullochella peelii mariensis	Mary River Cod	QLD	Endangered (AUST)
	Maccullochella ikei	Eastern Cod	NSW	Endangered (AUST)
	Macquaria ambigua	Golden Perch	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD, NT	Rare (VIC)
	Macquaria australasica	Macquarie Perch	VIC, NSW	Endangered (AUST, VIC)
	Macquaria colonorum	Estuary Perch	SA, VIC, NSW, TAS(?)
	Macquaria novemaculeata	Australian Bass	VIC, NSW, QLD	Rare (VIC)

PLOTOSIDAE (EEL-TAILED CATFISHES)
	Anodontiglanis dahli	Toothless Catfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Neosilurus ater	Black Catfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Neosilurus brevidorsalis	Short-Finned Catfish	QLD
	Neosiluris hyrtlii	Hyrtl's Tandan	NSW, QLD, NT, WA, SA
	Neosilurus sp.1	Dalhousie Catfish	SA
	Neosilurus sp.2	Coopers Creek Tandan	SA, QLD
	Neosilurus sp.3	False-Spine Catfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Porochilus argenteus	Silver Tandan	NSW, QLD, NT, SA
	Porochilus rendahli	Rendahl's Catfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Tandanus bostocki	Freshwater Cobbler	WA
	Tandanus tandanus	Freshwater Catfish	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD	Vulnerable (VIC)

PROTOTROCTIDAE (SOUTHERN GRAYLINGS)
	Prototroctes maraena	Australian Grayling	VIC, TAS, NSW	Vulnerable (AUST, VIC, TAS)

PSEUDOMUGILIDAE (BLUE-EYES)
	Pseudomugil cyanodorsalis	Blueback Blue-eye	NT, WA
	Pseudomugil gertrudae	Spotted Blue-eye	QLD, NT
	Pseudomugil inconspicuus	Inconspicuous Blue-eye	NT
	Pseudomugil mellis	Honey Blue-eye	QLD	Vulnerable (AUST)
	Pseudomugil signifer	Pacific Blue-Eye	NSW, QLD
	Pseudomugil tenellus	Delicate Blue-eye	QLD, NT
	Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis	Red-Finned Blue Eye	NT	Endangered (AUST)

RETROPINNIDAE (SMELTS)
	Retropinna semoni	Australian Smelt	SA, VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, NT
	Retropinna tasmanica	Tasmanian Smelt	TAS

SCORPAENIDAE (SCORPIONFISHES)
	Notesthes robusta	Bullrout	NSW, QLD
CENTROPOMIDAE (GIANT PERCHES)
	Lates calcarifer	Barramundi	QLD, NT, WA

SOLIDAE (SOLES)
	Aseraggodes klunzingeri	Tailed Sole	NT, WA
	Brachirus salinarum	Saltpan Sole	QLD, NT
	Brachirus selheimi	Freshwater sole	QLD, NT

SYNBRANCHIDAE (SWAMP EELS)
	Monopterus albus	Belut	QLD
	Ophisternon candidum	Blind Cave Eel	WA	Vulnerable (AUST)
	Ophisternon gutturale	Swamp Eel	QLD, NT

TERAPONIDAE (GRUNTERS)
	Amniataba percoides	Barred Grunter	SA, QLD, NT, WA
	Bidyanus bidyanus	Silver Perch	SA, VIC, NSW, QLD	Vulnerable (VIC)
	Bidyanus welchi	Welch's Grunter	SA, NSW, QLD, NT
	Hannia greenwayi	Greenway's Grunter	WA
	Hephaestus carbo	Coal Grunter	QLD, NT
	Hephaestus epirrhinos	Long-Nosed Sooty Grunter	WA
	Hephaestus fuliginosus	Sooty Grunter	QLD, NT
	Hephaestus jenkinsi	Jenkins Grunter	NT, WA
	Leiopotherapon aheneus	Fortesque Grunter	WA
	Leiopotherapon macrolepis	Large-Scale Grunter	WA
	Leiopotherapon unicolor	Spangled Perch	NSW, QLD, NT, WA, SA
	Pingalla gilberti	Gilbert's Grunter	QLD
	Pingalla lorentzi	Lorentz's Grunter	QLD
	Pingalla midgleyi	Midgley's Grunter	NT
	Scortum barcoo	Barcoo Grunter	SA, NSW, QLD,NT
	Scortum hillii	Leathery Grunter	QLD
	Scortum parviceps	Small-Headed Grunter	QLD
	Scortum sp.	Angalarri Grunter	NT
	Syncomistes butleri	Butler's Grunter	NT, WA
	Syncomistes kimberleyensis	Kimberley Grunter	NT, WA
	Syncomistes rastellus	Drysdale Grunter	WA
	Syncomistes trigonicus	Long-Nosed Grunter	WA

TOXOTIDAE (ARCHERFISHES)
	Toxotes chatareus	Seven-Spot Archerfish	QLD, NT, WA
	Toxotes lorentzi	Lorentz's Archerfish	NT
	Toxotes oligolepis	Large-Scale Archerfish	WA

Exotic Species

Exotic Fish page in the Fish Files.

FAMILY
	Species	Common Name	Distribution	Conservation Status

CICHLIDAE (CICHLIDS)
	Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum	Convict Cichlid	VIC	Introduced
	Cichlasoma octofasciatum	Jack Dempsey Cichlid	VIC	Introduced
	Tilapia mariae	Black Mangrove Cichlid or Tilapia	VIC, QLD	Introduced
	Oreochromis mossambicus	Mozambique Cichlid	WA, SA, VIC, NSW, QLD	Introduced

COBITIDAE (LOACHES)
	Misgurnus anguillicaudatus	Oriental Weatherloach	WA, SA, VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD	Introduced

CYPRINIDAE (CARPS AND BARBS)
	Carassius auratus	Goldfish	SA, VIC, TAS, NSW, ACT, QLD, WA	Introduced
	Cyprinus carpio	European Carp	SA, VIC, TAS, NSW, ACT, QLD	Introduced
	Puntius conchonius	Rosy Barb	QLD	Introduced
	Rutilus rutilus	Roach	VIC	Introduced
	Tinca tinca	Tench	SA, VIC, TAS, NSW	Introduced

CYPRINODONTIDAE (KILLIFISHES)
	Jordanella floridae	American Flagfish	QLD	Introduced

PERCIDAE (PERCHES)
	Perca fluviatilis	Redfin	SA, VIC, TAS, NSW, ACT, QLD	Introduced

POECILIIDAE (LIVEBEARERS)
	Gambusia holbrooki	Mosquitofish	SA, VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, NT, WA	Introduced
	Gambusia dominicensis	Domingo Mosquitofish	NT	Introduced
	Phalloceros caudimaculatus	One-spot Livebearer	WA	Introduced
	Poecilia latipinna	Sailfin Molly	QLD	Introduced
	Poecilia reticulata	Guppy	QLD	Introduced
	Xiphophorus helleri	Swordtail	QLD	Introduced
	Xiphophorus maculatus	Platy	QLD	Introduced

SALMONIDAE (SALMONS, TROUTS & CHARS)
	Oncorhynchus mykiss	Rainbow Trout	SA, VIC, TAS, NSW, ACT, WA	Introduced
	Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Chinook Salmon	VIC	Introduced
	Salmo salar	Atlantic Salmon	TAS, NSW	Introduced
	Salmo trutta	Brown Trout	SA, VIC, TAS, NSW, ACT, WA	Introduced
	Salvelinus fontinalis	Brook Char	TAS, VIC, NSW	Introduced

References

Allen, Midgley & Allen (2002), Field Guide To The Freshwater Fishes Of Australia, Museum of Western Australia & CSIRO Publishing, ISBN 073075486-3
Merrick & Schmida (1984), Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management, Griffin Press, ISBN 0 9591908 0 5
Allen (1989), Freshwater Fishes of Australia, T.F.H. Publications Inc, ISBN 0 86622 936 1
McDowall (Rev ed 1996), Freshwater Fishes of South Eastern Australia, Reed Books, ISBN 0 7301 0462 1
Allan (1982), Rainbowfishes of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Angus & Robertson Publishers, ISBN 0 207 14604 7
Cadwallader & Backhouse (1983), A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, F.D.Atkinson Government Printer Melbourne, ISBN 0 7241 8296 9

Internet References

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