13 replies to this topic

[malawiman85]

Hey all,

What's this little guy? Found it in freshwater of Mòore River..... looks suspiciously like a salmontail :-/
 20180210_180854.jpg   54.24KB   18 downloads

Edited by malawiman85, 10 February 2018 - 07:08 PM.

[pseudechisbutleri]

The pic isn't attached

[malawiman85]

Sorry, new phone

[pseudechisbutleri]

Alright, I can see it now, thanks.

 

It's not a freshwater species (there are no native fork-tailed catfish in the area), more likely an estuarine or marine species that's just strayed too far inland.

 

As for the species, I am unsure, I'm sure others will chime in. I've looked on FOA and none of the species even occur around Moore River, unless you've caught a vagrant from the north.

 

Whatever happened to the catfish?

[malawiman85]

Yeah i know there are no endemic freshwater fork/salmontails here in the south west... the question really is: Is this a marine critter that took a wrong turn (i dont think so because it was an inch long and in water that tasted full fresh).
So that gets me thinking about translocated salmontails

[pseudechisbutleri]

If it is a marine species, then maybe an egg drifted south. But yeh, a translocated salmontail is a possibility, or maybe even an unwanted aquarium subject thrown out by an irresponsible aquarist. Can't find any articles on Fisheries website though, so it's possible that another party translocated it. it looks a lot like a small salmontail too.

[ice]

Was it dead or alive in that photo? Do you have any more photos also?

 

Doesn't appear to be a salmon tail as its missing the second dorsal/adipose fin, the face also appears to be too short and the barbels are all wrong. Cant see the nasal cavities either?

 

Certainly an interesting little catfish.

Edited by ice, 12 February 2018 - 09:50 AM.

[Ageofaquariums]

Arripis truttaceus? Arius thalassinus? Neoarius midgleyi?

Many species are moving south due to climate change currents

 

[malawiman85]

All the Arridae are supposed to be a looooong way north though.... Arius graeffei range is the closest that I know of

 

Was it dead or alive in that photo? Do you have any more photos also?

 

Doesn't appear to be a salmon tail as its missing the second dorsal/adipose fin, the face also appears to be too short and the barbels are all wrong. Cant see the nasal cavities either?

 

Certainly an interesting little catfish.

Dead. 

I agree about the apparent absence of the fin and the face being short... Not sure that the barbels are that conclusive in the pic. The thing is, I've never seen salmon tails of any variety at this size (3cm)  before so don't know what they should look like.

[ice]

I've seen salmontails at that size and they are a fair bit stockier than the photographed fish, however it may have been ill or even deformed and who knows if the missing fin has rotted off or been eaten by something? Going to be tough to ID short of taking it in to the WA museum for someone to take a proper look. 

Could be worth emailing them the photo?

[keleherr]

Did you still have it? Happy to have a crack at the ID

[malawiman85]

Sorry mate, wish i'd kept it or takrn some better pics but i was on my way up to Kalbarri and not really thinking too much about it at the time.
Irrispective of what species it is, its not "supposed" to be there and it has me stumped.

Edited by malawiman85, 14 February 2018 - 03:52 PM.

[Mr_docfish]

Hard to tell adequately from the pic - but I note the large eye, fork tail and relatively shorty body structure. Plus the fact that Moore River does regularly join with the sea as it flows out...

I suggest it is at least in the family ARIIDAE
Generally marine origin, but will also head into estuaries- if it was carried south by the Leeuwin Current, it could have entered into the moore river looking for warmer waters...
Strange find indeed....

[kristof]

Might be the rare Dr suess blue fish