[RML] Gudgeon IDs

Matthew Stanton (matthews at sf.nsw.gov.au)
Thu, 16 Mar 2000 11:41:53 +1100

Congratulations to those responsible for the latest Fishes of Sahul (14/1)
on producing a near rainbow free issue! It is nice to see three other groups
getting some attention! In particular Mr. Unmack has helped greatly anyone
who wants to identify those troublesome little gudgeons. It was quite
obvious that the pictures in most of the field guides were wrong as they
didn't even fit the key features described in the books. NSW Fisheries had
so much trouble with IDs that in their major fish survey during the last
decade they did not even bother splitting the species. Everything was just
recorded as Western Carp Gudgeon.

Personally I can now say with more confidence that my own specimens from the
Pilliga (Namoi) area belong with Midgley's and Murray-Darling carp gudgeon.

I have two questions for Peter, the answers to which might be of interest to
the RML.

1) Is anyone planning to formally name the new species?

2) In your descriptions you make no mention of black belly linings in any of
the species, instead referring to breeding colour flushes or silvery
linings. I have collected fish (that I have attributed to Murray-Darling
carp gudgeon) that all showed distinct black bellies, particularly on the
females but also to a lesser extent on the males. The article photos of
Lake's, Midgley's and M-D females all seem to show some black belly pigment.
Is there some reason for you not mentioning this feature?

Later
Matthew

PS. I also liked Bruce Hansen's article about grunters, particularly the bit
about his $400 Sooty.

____________
\ o __ \__ Work Telephone - 0298720182
\ / C_/ \__ Work Facsimile - 0298716941
\ \______
|\_________\----/
\ \\\ \\ /
\\|
\| MatthewS at sf.nsw.gov.au