Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Ovalentaria/misc

Family: Ambassidae

Genus: Ambassis

Species: Ambassis agassizii Steindachner, 1867

Climate Zone

Location

• Oceania: endemic to Australia: New South Wales ( Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal), Queensland (Murray-Darling basin, NE costal), South Australia (Murray-Darling basin), Victoria (Murray-Darling basin); known only from limital area, Rockhampton, Queensland (23°22'S) to Lake Hiawatha, New South Wales(29°48'S) and Murray-Darling system as far south and west as Swan Reach, South Australia (34°34'S, 139°36'E).

Biology

Inhabit streams, ponds, swamps (Ref. 5259, 44894), rivers, creeks, reservoirs and drainage ditches (Ref. 44894); occurring in areas with plenty of weed cover at temperatures from 18°-27°C. Feed on small crustaceans. Spawn early in the morning: males display fins while chasing the female, swimming in a zigzag pattern. Demersal eggs are deposited and fertilized on vegetation with larvae hatching after 24 hours (Ref. 7311). Similar in appearance to A. agrammus and A. mulleri.

Habitat

benthopelagic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless