Dalhousie hardyhead (Craterocephalus dalhousiensis)

Scientific name: Craterocephalus dalhousiensis Ivantsoff & Glover, 1974

The Dalhousie hardyhead (Craterocephalus dalhousiensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Atherinidae. Native range: Oceania, restricted to the Dalhousie Springs, South Australia.

Biology

Inhabits warm water artesian springs and their outlet streams. Tolerates temperatures ranging from 20?-39?C, but has been recorded briefly entering water of 41.8?C to feed. A diurnally-active species which has one of the highest recorded voluntary temperature tolerances of any fish species in the world. Feeds on gastropods, aquatic plants, green filamentous algae, detritus and small invertebrates which are taken from the bottom. Dimorphic: bigger females with concave head and flat belly, long cylindrical sac-like ovary on left side of fish while the yellow-white testis lies on the right side. Appears to suffer thermal stress above 38?C but can tolerate low oxygen levels.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Craterocephalus dalhousiensis
Family
Atherinidae (Silversides)
Order
Atheriniformes (Silversides)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
8.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Oceania: restricted to the Dalhousie Springs, South Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (D2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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