Freshwater cobbler

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Freshwater cobbler
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Plotosidae
Genus: Tandanus
Species:
T. bostocki
Binomial name
Tandanus bostocki
Whitley, 1944
Synonyms

Plotosus unicolor
Castelnau, 1873

The freshwater cobbler, Tandanus bostocki, is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Plotosidae.[1][2] The freshwater cobbler originates from coastal drainages of southwestern Australia, from the Frankland River to the Moore River.[1] The species may reach about 50 centimetres (20 in) total length.[3]

The species has a dark brown to golden brown coloration which is lighter on the belly. It usually exhibits a mottled or spotted pattern.[4] The species lives in slow-flowing streams, ponds and reservoirs. It also occurs in isolated pools in riverbeds and some freshwater lakes, swimming close to rocky, gravelly, or sandy bottoms. Underwater cavities in river banks and root mounds of sedge tussocks may be utilized for shelter. The species is tolerant of brackish conditions[3] and has a venomous spine.[3] It is a nest builder with a reproductive biology similar to that of the eel-tailed catfish.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ferraris, Carl J. Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1418: 1–628.
  2. ^ "Tandanus bostocki: Freshwater Cobbler". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2007). "Tandanus bostocki" in FishBase. Aug 2007 version.
  4. ^ a b Allen, Gerald (1989). Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Neptune City: T.F.H. Publications. p. 67. ISBN 0-86622-936-1.