Long-nose sooty grunter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-nose sooty grunter |
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The long-nose sooty grunter (Hephaestus epirrhinos) is a special type of fish. It belongs to a fish family called Terapontidae. This fish lives only in Australia, meaning it is endemic to that country.
What Does It Look Like?
The long-nose sooty grunter is a large fish. It has a long body. Its snout, or nose, is quite long and curves slightly inwards. The fish's body is mostly a dark greenish-grey color. Its scales have wide black edges. The middle of each scale is a shiny golden or bronze color.
Young long-nose sooty grunters look a bit different. They are mostly green. They have wavy, irregular patterns on their upper sides. These patterns also appear near their tail. The longest long-nose sooty grunter ever recorded was about 42 centimeters (16.5 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
This fish is found only in one specific area of Australia. It lives in the eastern part of the Kimberley region. This region is located in Western Australia. People have seen this fish in the Drysdale River. It has also been found in the King Edward River.
Its Home and Life Cycle
The long-nose sooty grunter is a freshwater fish. Adult fish prefer to live in deep pools. These pools are usually found in rivers that flow slowly. They often hang out near sunken logs or plants that droop over the water. Sometimes, they can also be found in the deeper parts of riffles, which are shallow, fast-moving sections of a river.
Young long-nose sooty grunters usually live in different spots. They are often seen in shallow riffles. They also like slower-moving parts of the river. This fish is a carnivore, meaning it eats other animals. Its diet includes insects that live in the water. It also eats small crustaceans and other fish. Sometimes, they even eat small land animals or insects that fall into the water.
Long-nose sooty grunters become old enough to reproduce when they are about 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long. Scientists believe that the females lay their eggs on the river bottom. The male fish then guards these eggs. He also fans them to keep them healthy.
How It Was Discovered
The long-nose sooty grunter was officially described in 1978. Two scientists, Richard P. Vari and J. Barry Hutchins, first wrote about it. Richard P. Vari worked at the National Museum of Natural History. J. Barry Hutchins was from the Western Australian Museum. They found the first example of this fish in the Drysdale River.
