Tasmanian whitebait (Lovettia sealii)

Scientific name: Lovettia sealii Johnston, 1883

The Tasmanian whitebait (Lovettia sealii) is a freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae. Native range: Oceania, Tasmania, particularly along the northern and southeastern coasts.

Biology

Occurs in coastal seas, estuaries and rivers. An annual species, with an anadromous life cycle. In spring, large shoals of adults migrate from the sea into rivers and estuaries to spawn. Eggs are deposited on the bottom or among debris. They hatch in 2-3 weeks, and the fry are swept out to sea where they undergo development. Adults die shortly after spawning. Also known as Derwent whitebait.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Lovettia sealii
Family
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids)
Order
Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
8.0
Common length
5.5
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Oceania: Tasmania, particularly along the northern and southeastern coasts.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
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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