Fortescue grunter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fortescue grunter |
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Therapon aheneus Mees, 1963 |
The Fortescue grunter (Leiopotherapon aheneus) is a cool type of freshwater ray-finned fish. It's a grunter, which means it belongs to the Terapontidae family. This fish lives only in the rivers of Western Australia.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Fortescue grunter has a body that's a bit flat on the sides, like an oval. Its back is curved, and its belly is mostly straight. Its mouth is slanted and reaches to the front of its eye.
It has cone-shaped teeth in both its upper and lower jaws. The teeth on the outside are bigger. There are no teeth on the roof of its mouth.
Its body is covered in small, rough scales. It also has a smooth, curved line along its side called a lateral line. This line helps fish sense vibrations in the water.
Fins and Color
The fish has a long fin on its back called the dorsal fin. It has 11 to 13 strong spines, with the fifth one being the longest. After the spines, there are 8 or 9 soft rays.
The fin on its belly, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 8 or 9 rays. Its tail fin, the caudal fin, is slightly notched.
Fortescue grunters are usually bronze in color. Younger fish might have vertical stripes. Their color can range from brown to blackish. They might also have 10 to 15 thin, wavy lines along their body. The exact color can change depending on which river system they live in.
Their head is dark on top and lighter underneath. The tail fin is darker near its base and a bit cloudy along its edge, especially on the upper part. The other fins on their body can be clear or slightly dark.
Where Do Fortescue Grunters Live?
The Fortescue grunter is found only in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. They have been seen in rivers from the Ashburton River all the way to the upper parts of the Fortescue River. This means they are endemic to this area, which means they are native and found nowhere else in the world.
Their Home and Habits
Adult Fortescue grunters like to live in rocky pools. They also enjoy the slow-moving parts of streams. Sometimes, you can find them swimming in groups at the bottom of small waterfalls.
What Do They Eat?
These fish are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. Scientists have found small prawns and young fish in their diet.
How Do They Reproduce?
When it's time to lay eggs, the male Fortescue grunter takes care of them. He guards the eggs and uses his fins to fan them. This helps keep the eggs clean and supplied with oxygen.
Why Are They Important to People?
The Fortescue grunter has some value as a pet. People sometimes keep them in aquariums.
Protecting the Fortescue Grunter
The Fortescue grunter is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN. This means they are at a high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
Threats to Their Survival
There are a few main reasons why these fish are in danger:
- Habitat Damage: Their river systems are getting damaged. This can happen from too much grazing by animals, which harms the land around the rivers.
- Pollution: Mining activities in the area can cause pollution, which is harmful to the fish and their environment.
- New Species: Other animals that are not native to the area have been introduced. These include fish like mollies and a type of crayfish called Cherax quadricarinatus. These new species can compete with the Fortescue grunter for food or even eat them.
How They Got Their Name
The Fortescue grunter was first officially described in 1963. It was named Therapon aheneus by a Dutch scientist named Gerlof Mees. He studied both birds (he was an ornithologist) and fish (he was an ichthyologist).
The name aheneus comes from a word that means "bronze." This refers to the bronze color that this fish often shows.
