Scientific Name
Neosiluroides cooperensis

Common Name
Cooper creek catfish

Biology
Usually found in larger, more permanent waterholes with an earth and clay substrate (Ref. 27663, 44894). Significant flow occurs only after severe rainfall events, water is typically very turbid. Very aggressive towards other fishes, particularly in captivity. Feeds on gastropods and crustaceans. Has the largest egg size (3-4 mm) and lowest fecundity (about 1000 eggs per spawning) per unit length of any plotosid catfish in Australia (Ref. 44894).

Classification

Classified By

Allen & Feinberg, 1998

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Eeltail catfishes (Plotosidae)

Distribution

Region

Oceania

Distribution

Oceania: Cooper Creek system, part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal

Trophic Level

3.37 s.e. 0.58 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

46.0 cm

Common Length

23.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (48 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated