22KK jpeg 45cm (18in) TL from Cooper Creek, Windorah, Queensland. Peter Unmack photo.

30KK jpeg Head shot of a 48cm (19in) TL female, Thompson River, Longreach, Queensland. Peter Unmack photo.

Size

To at least 600mm (2ft) TL.

Conservation Status

None.

Distribution & Abundance

Confined to the Cooper Creek System where they are widespread and usually common, though not abundant.

Habitat & Ecology

Cooper Creek catfish have only been captured in relatively large waterholes. No fish smaller than 160mm (6.4in) TL have ever been recorded. They appear to be carnivorous with snails and shrimp having been found in their guts.

Reproduction

This species has the largest egg size and lowest fecundity per unit length of any fish in central Australia, and any other Australian freshwater plotosid. A 475mm (19in) TL fish contains approximately 1,000 eggs (Unmack 1996). They may be sexed by the shape of their urogenital papilla, females are short and flat, males papilla are longer and pointed. Nothing else is known of their breeding biology.

Threats

No specific threats are present.

Conservation Action

Not relevant.

Conservation Recommendations

Undertake basic biological studies.

Important References

Unmack, P. J. 1996. The unique Cooper Creek catfish from Central Australia. Fishes of Sahul. 10(2): 460-464. (Journal of the Australian New Guinea Fishes Association, Australia).

This file was last modified:  18 March 2003