Jordan's Catfish

Freshwater Fish of Australia
Part 2 of 5

Catfish - Eel Tailed (Plotosidae)
Although the toxonomy of Plotosidae is still to be fully defined, they comprise the lion's share of Australian catfish. They derive their family name from the word Plotos, meaning swimmers. Like the common plecostomus, they have spiny fins that can make them difficult to handle. Some species have poison glands, and deaths have been attributed to them. Although some species are large, many are small and docile enough to be suitable for use in community aquariums. However they are not often available in the trade. Some species are on the endangered list, and trade is restricted. Australian freshwater eel-tailed catfish species seen in the trade include:
   Anodontiglanis dahli (Toothless Catfish)
   Neosilurus ater (Black Catfish)
   Neosilurus hyrtlii (Hyrtl's catfish)
   Porochilus argenteus (Silver Tandan)
   Porochilus obbesi (Obbes' Catfish)
   Tandanus tandanus (Tandanus or Dewfish)

Catfish - Fork Tailed (Ariidae)
Large in both numbers of species and physical size, their size may have contributed to their scientific family name Ari - which is derived from the Greek god of war. This family of catfish can be found in abundance in Australia as well as other tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Most are marine fish, however a few have adapted to freshwater. Ariidae are paternal moneylenders, a somewhat unusual practice in the catfish family. Due to their size, they more often found on the table rather than in the aquarium trade. However the following two species are sometimes found in larger aquariums.
    Arius berneyi (Lesser Salmon Catfish)
    Arius graeffei (Blue or Salmon Catfish)
Both resemble the popular Arius seemani (Jodan's Shark), which is indigenous to North and South America.

Congolli (Bovichtidae)
Bovichtidae are rarely seen in the trade. With the exception of one or two species that have adapted to freshwater, all Bovichtidae are marine fish. They are indigenous to Australia and Tasmania, or to Iceland from which they derive their name - icefish. The freshwater species indigenous to Australia is:
    Pseudaphritis urvillii (Congolli or Freshwater flathead)

Galaxis (Galaxiidae)
Galaxiids, or native minnows, derive their name from the latin word Galaxi (galaxy of stars). However that name belies their appearance, as most are fairly drab. Galaxiids are generally considered the Southern Hemisphere equivalent of salmon or trout. Numbering 21 species they represent the largest contingent of freshwater fish in Australia. In spite of being a peaceful schooling fish, only a few species are kept in aquariums due to their lack of color. Those include:
   Galaxias auratus (Golden Galaxias)
   Galaxias olidus (Mountain Galaxias)
   Galaxias truttaceus ( Spotted Mountain Trout or Trout Minnow)
   Galaxias maculatus (Common Jollytail or Inanga)
   Galaxiella pusilla ( Eastern Little Galaxias or Dwarf Galaxias)
   Galaxiella nigrostriata ( Black-stripe Minnow)

Glassfish (Ambassidae)
It is easy to see where glassfish derived their name. Small translucent fish, they are found in both fresh and salt waters. Their taxonomy is still actively being established, however it's believe that they originated from Australia. Only a few species are seen in the aquarium trade.
   Ambassis agassizii (Agassi Glassfish)
   Ambassis macleayi (Reticulated Perchlet)
   Ambassis mulleri (Western Chanda)