Gulf saratoga

Gulf saratoga
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Osteoglossiformes
Family: Osteoglossidae
Subfamily: Osteoglossinae
Genus: Scleropages
Species: S. jardinii
Binomial name
Scleropages jardinii
(Saville-Kent, 1892)

The Gulf saratoga or Northern saratoga, Scleropages jardinii, is a freshwater bony fish native to Australia and New Guinea, one of two species of fishes sometimes known as Australian arowanas, the other being the saratoga (S. leichardti). It has numerous other common names, including northern saratoga, Australian bonytongue, toga and barramundi (not to be confused with the barramundi perch, Lates calcarifer). It is a member of the subfamily Osteoglossinae, a (basal) teleost group. Its scientific name is sometimes spelled S. jardini.

Distribution

S. jardinii is patchily distributed throughout most of the Gulf of Carpentaria drainage system, west to the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory, throughout northern Queensland and in New Guinea.[2] It inhabits still clear waters of pools and billabongs, and the slow-flowing sections of streams.[2]

It is not considered endangered or threatened by either the CITES conventions nor the IUCN Red List.

Description

Subadult gulf saratoga at New York Aquarium

This fish has a long, dark-colored body with seven rows of large scales, each with several reddish or pinkish spots arranged in a crescent shape around the trailing edge of the scale, giving it a pearly appearance. It has large, wing-like pectoral fins. Except for duller coloration and smaller scale size, it appears very similar to the Asian Arowana, S. formosus. It grows to a length of about 90 cm (35 in). Its maximum weight is recorded as 17.2 kg (38 lb), but one report suggests it has been known to weigh as much as 27 kg (60 lb). The depth of the bodies of adults is approximately 25-28% of the Standard Length, making this a more robust fish than its Australian cousin S. leichardti.

Like other Arowanas, it is a mouthbrooder, but unlike the Asian Arowana, reports suggest the female rather than the male broods the young in her mouth.

Due to their resemblance to the Asian Arowanas they are sometimes sold in the name of golden Arowana in some of the Asian countries, like India. However, they can be easily distinguished from the Asian Arowanas by identifying their red spotted fins & 7-8 rows of scales on their body.

Diet

Gulf saratoga are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects, small fishes and crustaceans.[2]

See also

in Prague sea aquarium

References

  1. ↑ Savage, A. & Causado, J. (2008). "Scleropages jardinii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Martin F. Gomon (2011) Northern Saratoga, Scleropages jardinii. Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
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