Southern saratoga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern saratoga |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Osteoglossidae
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| Genus: |
Scleropages
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| Species: |
S. leichardti
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| Binomial name | |
| Scleropages leichardti (Günther, 1864)
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The southern saratoga (Scleropages leichardti) is a special freshwater fish found in Australia. People also call it the spotted bonytongue or spotted saratoga. It belongs to a group of ancient fish called arowanas.
Like all arowanas, the southern saratoga is a meat-eater. It's also a "mouthbrooder," which means the parents keep their eggs and young fish safe inside their mouths. Sometimes, people call it the "Australian arowana" or even "barramundi," but the name barramundi usually refers to a different fish in Australia. This fish likes cloudy waters and lives in specific areas.
What Does the Southern Saratoga Look Like?
Southern saratoga can grow quite large, up to 90 cm (about 3 feet) long and weigh around 4 kg (almost 9 pounds). When they are ready to have babies, they are usually about 48–49 cm long.
These fish are very old-fashioned in their design. They live near the water's surface and have flat bodies. Their backs are almost perfectly flat, and their top fin (dorsal fin) is set far back towards their tail.
Their bodies are dark brown or olive green on top, with lighter sides and a white belly. They have big, bony scales, and each scale has small orange or red dots. This is a key way to tell them apart from their cousin, the gulf saratoga (Scleropages jardinii), which has several reddish spots shaped like a crescent on each scale.
The southern saratoga also has a lower jaw that slopes sharply upwards. On its chin, it has two soft, fleshy feelers called barbels. Compared to other arowanas, the southern saratoga is slimmer. For example, a 90 cm southern saratoga weighs much less than a gulf saratoga of the same length.
This fish is popular for aquariums, but remember, it's a predator! It will eat other fish, shrimp, and yabbies that are in its tank.
Where Does the Southern Saratoga Live?
Southern saratoga are naturally found in the Fitzroy River system in Australia. You can also find them in freshwater dams and slow-moving parts of the Mary, Dawson, and Burnett rivers.
Some southern saratoga have also been introduced to dams in the Brisbane, North Pine, and Noosa Rivers. They prefer calm waters or slow-moving river sections. You might spot them hiding among lily pads or under fallen trees. These fish are known to be quite aggressive and like to have their own space.
Is the Southern Saratoga in Danger?
The southern saratoga is not currently listed as a highly endangered species by CITES (a group that protects wildlife). Its status on the IUCN Red List is "Lower Risk/near threatened." This means it's not in immediate danger, but its population needs to be watched carefully.
Even though it doesn't naturally live there, the southern saratoga is a protected species in Indonesia. In Queensland, Australia, many southern saratoga have been added to dams to help their numbers grow.
