Yarra pygmy perch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yarra pygmy perch |
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The Yarra pygmy perch (Nannoperca obscura) is a small fish. It belongs to a group called temperate perch. This fish is special because it is endemic to southeastern Australia. This means it is found naturally only in this part of the world.
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Where Does the Yarra Pygmy Perch Live?
The Yarra pygmy perch lives in streams and lakes along the coast of southeastern Australia. It likes places with lots of plants and water that flows. You can find it in the southeastern part of South Australia, south of Adelaide. It also lives along southern Victoria, extending past Melbourne.
This fish was first seen in the lower Murray River area in South Australia in 2002. However, a big dry period called the millennium drought in 2008 caused many of them to disappear. They vanished from the Murray-Darling basin, with only a few surviving in private dams.
What Does the Yarra Pygmy Perch Look Like?
The Yarra pygmy perch is a small fish. It can grow up to about 7.5 cm (3.0 in) long. Most of them are around 5 cm (2.0 in). Their top part is olive-green, and their sides are greenish-brown. Their belly is a yellowish-white color. They also have cool V-shaped marks on the back half of their body. Sometimes, you might even see them in fish tanks because people keep them as aquarium pets.
What Does the Yarra Pygmy Perch Eat?
This little fish enjoys eating small insects and their young (larvae). It also likes to munch on tiny crustaceans, which are like small shrimp or crabs.
Why is the Yarra Pygmy Perch in Danger?
The Yarra pygmy perch is an endangered species. In 2019, it was listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. This is a global list that tracks animals and plants at risk. In Australia, it is considered a vulnerable animal. This means it needs protection under federal laws like the EPBC Act and Victoria's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. In South Australia, it is even more at risk, listed as critically endangered.
How Are People Helping the Yarra Pygmy Perch?
Good news! People are working hard to help these fish. In November 2023, about 1,000 Yarra pygmy perch were released. These fish were special because their genes were tested to make sure they were healthy. They were put into special fenced areas near Hindmarsh Island in the lower Murray River. This gave them three weeks to get used to the new environment before being set free into the river.
This important project was led by scientists from the University of Adelaide and Flinders University. The Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board also helped. What's even cooler is that people from the community and even school students volunteered to help with this conservation effort! Their work is helping to bring the Yarra pygmy perch back from the brink.
