Description
Colours of both sexes are translucent to silvery with a plainly visible swim bladder; eyes are silvery-blue. Sexually mature males, in the reproductive mode, take on an attractive colouration. The males fins being edged with brilliant vermilion, hence their common name of Red finned Blue-eye.

Distribution
Found in artesian springs located on Edgbaston Station, a sheep, and cattle property located 35 km north-east of Aramac in central western Queensland. The discovery of this new species suggests that the Blue-eye group may have had a much wider distribution than previously thought, and not just limited to coastal areas. Perhaps they are remnants of fish populations that existed when wetter conditions prevailed in central Australia.

Photo © Günther Schmida

Habitat
Artesian springs scattered across an alluvial plain and supporting an unusual habitat type, which is distinct from the surrounding arid region. Most of the springs are very small, shallow, and marshy. The depth of the springs fluctuates with permanent springs usually around a depth of only 5 to 20 cm. The water is generally clear pH 7.8 to 8.0; General Hardness around 150 ppm and well oxygenated. Water temperatures are extremely variable from spring to spring and within each spring. In May 1990 the temperatures varied from 7 to 28° Celsius. During May 1991 at 7.00 am water temperatures of 7 to 20°C were recorded in different parts of the springs. While at other times of the year minimum and maximum water temperatures of 3 and 38.5° Celsius have been recorded. Air temperatures of minus 3° up to 40° Celsius have been recorded in the area.

Brief Biology
Body moderately compressed and elongated, growing to a length of around 3 cm. Two dorsal fins, separated by a small gap, the first much smaller than the second. An egg-scatterer, generally spawning amongst aquatic plants and grasses. Eggs adhere to water plants and hatching occurs around 9-11 days at a temperature of 25° Celsius. Essentially a carnivore, feeding on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic insects, insect larvae, and small aquatic crustaceans. Probably possess both eurythermal and euryhaline characteristics, which are acquired by many desert fishes in response to a changing environment.

Other Notes
They are listed as an endangered species and share their habitat with another endangered species Chlamydogobius squamigenus, the Edgbaston Goby. Although population numbers in individual springs have varied since their discovery, specific population trends are not well known and they have disappeared completely from a number of springs. It is estimated that their numbers may range from a few hundred to a few thousand individuals. Their continued existence is being threatened by the introduced mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) and habitat destruction caused by harvesting water from the Great Artesian Basin, trampling and grazing by stock and feral animals, and modification of springs to provide for stock watering. These threats are all of a very high degree and a recovery plan has been implemented by ANCA, the Australian Nature Conservation Agency to preserve the species and its natural habitat.

Literature
Blackman J. G. and A. V. Spain (1992). A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia (Queensland). (Revised by Blackman J. G. and S. A. Craven, 1995). Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
Ivantsoff W., P. Unmack, B. Saeed, and L.E.L.M. Crowley. (1991) A Redfinned Blue-eye, a new species and genus of the family Pseudomugilidae from central western Queensland. Fishes of Sahul 6 (4): 277-82.
Larson H. K. (1995). A review of the Australian endemic gobiid fish genus Chlamydogobius, with description of five new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 12: 19-51.
Tappin A. R. (1995). Redfinned Blue-eye. Fishes of Sahul 9 (3): 430-432.
Tappin A. R. (1995). Das Rotflossige Blauauge: Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis. Regenbogenfisch 10 (2): 30-35.
Wager R. and P. Jackson. (1993). The Action Plan for Australian Freshwater Fishes. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
Wager R. (1994). The Distribution of Two Endangered Fish in Queensland, Part B, The Distribution and Status of the Red-finned Blue-eye. Final Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
Wager R. (1995). Recovery Plan for Queensland Artesian Spring Fishes. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.

Copyright © Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2002