A Report on the impacts on the importation of Leggett’s
Rainbowfish, Glossolepis leggetti, for use as an ornamental
aquarium species in the Australian Aquarium Trade.
Prepared by Dave Wilson1*, Glenn Briggs2 and Danny Brown3
*
Corresponding author
Dave Wilson , Aquagreen , PO Box 756, Howard Springs, NT, 0835, (08) 8983 1483, aqua.green@bigpond.com
2
Glenn Briggs, Bay Fish Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, 3000, (03) 9310 3610, melbourne@bayfish.com.au
3
Dr Danny Brown BVSc (Hons) (MACVSc) BSc(Hons)(Zoology), 6 Bulic Ct, Glasshouse Mountains, QLD, 4518,
geckodan@bigpond.com
1
1. Provide a summary of the proposed activity, including the intended
use of the species (e.g. pet, commercial, scientific).
If accepted for import, Leggett’s Rainbowfish Glossolepis leggetti will be used in the live fish ornamental
aquarium display trade. It is proposed to use the services of a major aquarium fish importer to import up to
one hundred live specimens of Glossolepis leggettii from an approved source for imports of ornamental fish
to start a breeding colony on Aquagreen premises, a Northern Territory Government licensed Aquaculture
facility located at 28 Mahaffey Road, Howard Springs in the Northern Territory (NT Aquaculture Licence
C1/533). The progeny of the original imports are to be offered to the ornamental fish trade through the
wholesale supply service (supplied to the Australian ornamental fish industry by the same major importer
located in Melbourne, Victoria).
The inclusion of Glossolepis leggetti on the allowable import list will then make the species eligible for
inclusion on the NT list of allowable species under the provisions of Section 26 of the Northern Territory of
Australia Fisheries Regulations (as in force 19 December 2001). The NT list of species of ornamental
fishes suitable for use within the Territory Aquarium Industry are linked to the federal list of allowable live
imports located within the provisions of section 303EB of the Environment Protection Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 subject to approval of the Director of Fisheries in the NT.
2. Provide detailed guidelines on the way in which the species should be
kept, transported and disposed of in accordance with the proposed
activity.
2.1.
Import of the species
The specimens if approved for import will be imported under the same provisions and disease protocols as
used for other ornamental fishes imported by Aquarium Importers and the current quarantine practices as
outlined by Biosecurity Australia Advice 2009/24 of 2 October 2009.
2.2.
Keeping of the species
The species will be kept under the same conditions as any other members of the same genus would be kept
in Aquaria. The Aquarium trade will treat this fish in a similar to other members of the genus Glossolepis
which have been bred and traded in Australia from the 1970’s when they were first imported and
continuously imported until 1986 when the importation of New Guinea rainbowfishes ceased. The original
importers of this fish will comply with provisions under conditions as outlined in advice 2009/24 issued by
Biosecurity Audstralia 02 October 2009. Leggett’s Rainbowfish, Glossolepis leggetti, will be kept under
conditions that mimic the water quality and diet that are as close as possible to the limited knowledge of its
natural habitat.
2.3.
Transport
The fish will be transported as per the conditions set down by the International Air Transport Association
(IATA) guidelines and the provisions of AQIS policy document 99/2750a (AQIS 1999). The importation
of the species will adhere to provisions of Biosecurity Audstralia advice 2009/24 issued 02 October 2009
3. Provide information on the taxonomy of the species.
3.1.
Systematic placement of Glossolepis leggetti :
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order
Atheriniformes
Family:
Melanotaeniidae
Genus:
Glossolepis
Species Glossolepis leggetti Allen & Renyaan 1998
(Froese 2006)
Photo: Dr Gerald Allen
Leggett’s Rainbowfish Glossolepis leggetti was discovered by Gerald Allen and Samuel Renyaan in the
Wapoga River system of Northern Irian Jaya during April 1998 while conducting aquatic fauna surveys
facilitated by Conservation International. It was subsequently described by Allen and Renyaan (1998) as
follows :
Description Summary
Length : 51 to 92 millimetres
Mouth generally small, teeth conical with slightly curved tips extending onto outer surface of lips. Body
colouration on males iridescent green on back, dull orange to whitish on breast and lower side. A diffused
blue midlateral band, its colouration most intense posteriorly and bordered immediately below by narrower
stripe of light metallic blue. Sides with scattered dark blur flecks or narrow bars. Fins generally translucent
although dorsal and anal may be bluish, particularly in adult males. Females are the same colour, but less
ornate with a narrow midlateral stripe and with the dark flecks and narrow bars on the side considerably
reduced.
Sexual dimorphism; Males generally posses a deeper body and have elongated posterior rays on anal and
dorsal fins. Females are the same colour, but less ornate with a narrow mid lateral stripe and with the dark
flecks and narrow bars on the side considerably reduced. It is expected that the colouration of the fish will
be intensified by providing ideal aquarium conditions as is the case with other members of the
Melanotaeniidae Family thus making it a valuable aquarium species.
4. Provide information on the status of the species under the Convention
on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).
For example, is the species listed on CITES Appendix I, II or III, and if so, are there any specific
restrictions on the movement of this species?
4.1
A search on the on-line database of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources (IUCN) red list of threatened species revealed no listing for Glossolepis leggetti
4.2
Leggett’s Rainbowfish Glossolepis leggetti is not a CITES listed organism. There is no record of
Glossolepis leggetti on the CITES listed species data base available as an electronic publication on the
World Wide Web at the universal resource locator http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html
information downloaded 07 March 2006
4.3
A search of Fishbase revealed no listing of Leggett’s Rainbowfish, Glossolepis leggetti, as
threatened in its natural habitat (Froese and Pauly 2006).
5. Provide information about the ecology of the species.
Include, but do not restrict your response to
5.1
The Natural Geographic Range
Glossolepis leggetti is only known from one location in the Wapoga River and three locations in the
Tiawiwa River, Papua New Guinea from the collections of Gerald Allen and Samuel Renyaan during 1998.
The image is downloaded from the Google Earth satellite images of the earth available from the Google
Earth program downloaded from URL http://earth.google.com . The latitude and logitude coordinates from
the four stations where Allen and Renyaan collected Glossolepis leggettii are recorded on the photograph.
Station 1
Tiawiwa River 3o 02.665’ South 136o 22.336’ East
Station 3
Braid of Tiawiwa River 3o 02.792’ South 136o 22.852’ East
Station 8
Tiawiwa River near abandoned logging camp 3o 02.141’ South 136o 22.656’ East
Station 9
Wapoga River tributary 2o 42.378’ South 136o 05.401’ East
5.2
Habitat, specifically mention upper and lower ranges for: temperature, pH,
salinity and oxygen
Allen and Renyaan (1998) recorded Glossolepis leggetti from 4 collection stations on the Tiawiwa and
Wapoga Rivers during April 1988. Water quality and habitat descriptions were recorded as follows for
those locations:
Location
Substrate
gravel/rock/sand
gravel/cobble/bedrock/sand
Water
Appearance
Clear
tea colour
Average
Depth
0.5 m
to 3.0 m
Station 1
Station 3
Station 8
gravel rock soft sand
turbid green
3 to 4 m
Station 9
mud/sand.limestone/rock
clear
2 to 3
meters
Temperature
pH
Salinity
30.4o C
26.2 to 30.7o
C
28o C
7.2
6.0 7.8
7.2
fresh
fresh
26.5o C
8.4
fresh
fresh
The only records are for April, therefore it can be assumed that there will be slightly different
environmental conditions through the remainder of the dry season and cooler water with a higher flow rates
during the wet season.
In Summary :
Temperature - 26.2 to 30.7
Salinity - fresh
pH - 6.0 to 8.4
The substrates range from fine sand to limestone rock and from the pH range one could also assume the
water hardness would most likely be from quite soft to very hard. These assumptions are based on the
experience of the author measuring water qualities in various locations across the North of Australia. The
results of many water quality and habitat observations are recorded on the Australia and New Guinea
Fishes Association (ANGFA) data base. Access to the data base is available via a password on the world
wide web at the uniform resource locator http://db.angfa.org.au.. Any person reviewing this part of the
document may obtain username and password for the database from the database administrator.
5.3
Diet
The specific diet of Glossolepis leggetti was not recorded by Allen and Renyaan (1998) but the diet of
other members of the Glossolepis genus are well recorded. All rainbowfishes of the family
Melanotaenidae are reasonably similar in their dietary preferences. They are omnivores, eating a variety of
small aquatic and terrestrial creatures and plant matter. Rainbowfishes have villiform teeth that extend
outside their mouth around their lips to enable them to scrape algae from submerged hard surfaces. The diet
includes algae, ants, aquatic insect larvae and small crustaceans. (Allen 1991)
5.4
Social behaviour and groupings
There is no specific description for the social behaviour of Glossolepis leggettii but there is general
descriptions for the behaviour of rainbowfishes. There is no indication that Glossolepis leggetti is different
from other rainbowfishes. Allen (1991) describes the general behaviour of rainbowfishes as small
schooling fishes generally less than 12 cm in length and common in most habitats below 1500m elevation.
The habits of other members of Glososlepis genus in captivity are well documented. Allen & Renyaan
(1998) indicated that Glossolepis leggetti is most closely related to G. multisquamatus. Behavioural
observations for G. multisquamatus are typical for most rainbowfishes and may be considered indicative of
the behavior of the proposed species, G. leggetti. Tappin (2005) gives the following general descriptions of
rainbowfish behaviour in the aquarium ; “Rainbowfishes have very similar breeding habits, their food
requirements are similar, and water that suits one particular species will suit all. All are of good-natured
temperament and will live harmoniously, more or less, with one another. Rainbowfishes are a schooling
fish , living in the mid-water to the surface zone, often adjacent aquatic and emergent vegetation or snags in
deeper water and in the quieter parts of streams at the head and bottom of riffles and rapids. From first light
to mid morning dominant males will intensify in colour, select a feature such as a prominent piece of
aquatic vegetation or small snag then attempt to lure and chase females into the area at the same time
displaying erect fins to other nearby males trying to attract the same females. Males with close areas will
sometime circle each other flaring their fins. This rarely causes any damage and as it is mostly stylized
display to establish male dominance. Females generally select the male they mate with and the pair quiver
side by side for a few seconds near the chosen feature before a simultaneous release of eggs and sperm.
The pair split apart in a rapid burst, scattering the fertilized eggs into the vegetation. The eggs have sticky
filaments and are generally caught in the vegetation where they remain for 5 to 11 days before hatching
into well formed larvae with very small yolk sac.”
5.5
The ability to breath atmospheric air (accessory breathing organs)
There is no information to indicate members of the rainbowfish family Melanoteanidae have any auxiliary
lung to assist in low oxygen situation
5.6
Characteristics or behaviour that enable the species to survive drought or other
adverse conditions (e.g. hibernation or aestivation).
There is no information to indicate members of the rainbowfish family Melanoteanidae have any ability to
aestivate or any evidence that their eggs can survive desiccation.
There is a pronounced difference between the topography of Australia and that of New Guinea. The
extensive mountain ranges that run from east to west forms an effective isolating mechanism. The
freshwater ichthyofauna can be clearly divided into two biogeographical regions. Freshwater bodies to the
south of the central mountain range have an ichthyofauna closely allied with that of northern Australia.
Rainbowfishes inhabiting river systems in the north are by and large different species from those in
southern water bodies. In addition to the physical land barrier formed by the central mountain range,
northern rivers are additionally much younger than southern rivers.
6. Provide information on the reproductive biology of the species
There is no record of any work done on the reproductive biology of Glossolepis leggetti but the description
of the Glossolepis leggetti by Allan and Renyaan (1988) states that it most closely resembles Glossolepis
multisquamatus which is a species that is well known in the aquarium trade and has been kept and bred by
the authors since 1983 from stock obtained from Melbourne. Three other Glossolepis species are well
known in Australia; Glossolepis maculosus, Glossolepis incisus and Glossolepis wannamensis. The
members of this genus were imported by various persons from wild New Guinea populations up until 1986
when further import controls were placed on live ornamental fish importations.
6.1
The age at maturity (first breeding) and lifespan of the species
There is no record of this information for Glossolepis leggetti but generally Rainbowfishes start to breed
about 6 months of age and are reported to live for about 4 years in their natural habitat and up to 8 years in
captivity.
6.2
Ability of individuals to change sex
There is no record of any Rainbowfish species changing sex such as some other native Australian fishes
such as barramundi and clownfish.
6.3
Single sexed (ie either male or female) vs. hermaphroditic (ie have both male and female
reproductive organs)
There is no record of any normal members of the Rainbowfish family having the organs of both sexes
existing within the same fish.
6.4
Frequency of breeding
There are no records or observations for Glossolepis leggettii but closely related Glossolepis species will
produce about 40 to 100 viable eggs a day for several consecutive days in a two week period. This amount
of egg production will continue during times of good water quality and abundant foods which would occur
for several months before, during and shortly after the wet season.
6.5
Sperm storage
There is no record in any Rainbowfish books or papers examined of this family being able to store sperm.
Rainbow fish are egg scatterers with eggs and sperm ejected simultaneously requiring both sexes for a
successful fertile egg laying.
6.6
Number of eggs or live-born offspring produced at each breeding event
There are no records for Glossolepis leggettii but closely related Glossolepis species will produce about 40
to 100 viable eggs each day for several consecutive days in a two week period. This amount of egg
production will continue during times of good water quality and good food availability which would occur
for several months before, during and shortly after the wet season.
6.7
Hybridisation with other species (both in the wild and in captivity)
Reports of naturally occurring rainbowfish hybrids in the wild are extremely rare. A report of naturally
occurring hybrids between the genera Melanotaenia and Chilatherina can be found in Allen & Cross
(1992) but there are no known naturally occurring hybrids between Glossolepis sp. and Melanotaenia sp..
G. leggetti shares its habitat with Chiliatherina alleni, Melanotaenia praecox and M. rubripinnis.There are
no naturally occurring Glossoplepis species in Australia. Despite the fact that some species of Glossolepis
have been kept as aquarium fish in Australia for several decades this genus has never established feral
populations here.
Based on Allen (1989) and other works, the species in this genus have evolved in isolation from each other
and almost certainly differences in courtship and spawning behaviour would have evolved at the same time
(indeed, such isolating mechanisms must be available in this one habitat for two or more taxa to have
evolved to the level of genus!). Distinct species as we know them have evolved as separate breeding units
because of physicochemical, behavioural and recognition cues . These are complex and species-specific
and effectively restrict hybridization
That many species of rainbowfish are being raised in ponds adjacent to each other by breeders in Asia and
elsewhere (and it is so unlikely that the tanks would always be uncontaminated), negates the likelihood of
easy hybridisation between this and other rainbowfish taxa.
There are reports, both published and anecdotal, of hybridisation between the various species of
Melanotaenia, Glossolepis, Chilatherina and Rhadinocentrus as well as between genera. Virtually all of
these have taken place either accidentally or on purpose under the artificial conditions within captivity.
This species has never been kept in captivity as far as the enquiries of the authors can establish. There were
no record or mention from Dr Allen of any hybrids of this species in its natural location.
Hybridisation in rainbowfishes , although rarely occurring in nature, can be forced in the aquarium by
providing only one sex of two different species. A closely related species, Glossolepis incisus was
hybridized with a Melanotaenia praecox by Jarred Patrick of Bay Tropical Fish of Brisbane. The resulting
offspring were infertile.
Overseas ( Europe and USA) some attempts have been made to establish “aquarium” strains of hybrids
between various Melanotaenia species and none of these have become established in the trade, mainly
because of hobby , club and market resistance to such crosses . The hobby groups overseas such as the
RSG (Rainbowfish Study Group, in the USA) and the IRG (in Europe) and ANGFA here in Australia
regularly advise hobbyists against buying or perpetuating such hybrids even when they are disguised under
“pseudo-scientific” names such as Melanotaenia marcii etc. Hobbyists engage in continuous dialogue on
various aspects of husbandry and conservation of rainbowfishes (as well as other species ) on the Internet
and various discussion forums in several languages.
6.8
Fertility of Hybrid Progeny
There is no record of Glossolepis leggettii being hybridized in captivity nor any observations of hybrids in
their natural habitat. Hybrids of other Glossolepis and Melanotaenia produce infertile offspring.
7. Provide information on whether this species has established feral
populations, and if so, where those populations are.
There are no records of this fish being bought into captivity therefore there are no records of it being
translocated to another place. Despite the fact that some species of Glossolepis have been kept as aquarium
fish in Australia for several decades this genus has never established feral populations here.
8. Provide information on, and the results of, any other environmental
risk assessments undertaken on the species both in Australia and
overseas.
There is no record of any risk assessment for Glossolepis leggetti however Glossolepis incisus, a closely
related species has been assessed by Patricia Kialola for and on behalf of the Pet Industry Association of
Australia.
9. Provide information on all other Commonwealth, State and Territory
legislative controls
on the species.
9.1 The Commonwealth Government
Regulation of fish imports comes under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 (EPBC Act). The list of allowable species of fishes for importation into Australia was attached as
schedule 6 of the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Imports and Exports) Act 1982 and Glossolepis leggetti
was not included on this list. The current list of fishes allowed for importation occurs in section 303 EB of
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Glossolepis leggetti is not listed in
that legislation.
Information about importation of fishes is available on Department of The Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts web site accessed through universal resource locator http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/exoticfish/index.html
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service received Policy Review advice 2009/24 from
Biosecurity Australia issued 02 October 2009, “Importation of Rainbowfish for Ornamental Purposes”. It
outlines the conditions under which members of the family Melanotaenia can be imported into Australia for
ornamental purposes.
9.2 The Northern Territory
The Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines will not allow Glossolepis
leggetti across its border unless it has passed the Commonwealth guidelines for acceptance into the
country. The list of species of fishes allowed into the Northern Territory for ornamental fishes is the same
as Commonwealth list but with the possibility of having the species rejected if it is deemed unsuitable by
the NT Minister for Fisheries as outlined in section 26 of the Northern Territory Fisheries Regulations
2001.
The most current version of the Northern Territory Fisheries Act is available on line at universal resource
locator http://dcm.nt.gov.au/strong_service_delivery/supporting_government/current_northern_territory_legislatio
n_database
8.3 The Queensland Government.
The aquarium fish trade control comes under the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994 and the Queensland
Fisheries Regulation 1995. Sections 88, 89, 90 of the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994 regulate possession
transport and release of non-indigenous fishes and noxious fishes. Glossolepis leggetti is not listed on this
schedule as noxious fish. Noxious fishes are listed in section 74 of the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994,
Fisheries (Freshwater) Management Plan 1999 and Glossolepis leggetti is not recorded on that list as a
noxious species.
http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/acts_sls/acts_sl.htm
8.4 Western Australian Government
Under Regulation 176 of the Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995, a person must not bring into
the State a species of fish not endemic to the State without the written approval, or written authority, of the
Executive Director of the Department of Fisheries. Species listed as noxious under Schedule 5 of the Fish
Resources Management Regulations 1995 and prohibited to be imported into the State. Glossolepis leggetti
is not listed as noxious or restricted in Western Australia.
Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995
http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/default.html
8.5 The South Australian Government
Section 49 of the Fisheries Act 1982 makes it an offence to import or sell exotic fish. The South Australian
Fisheries regulations relating to exotic aquarium fish are the Fisheries (Exotic Fish, Fish Farming And Fish
Diseases) Regulations 2000, Regulations Under The Fisheries Act 1982. Part 6 of the regulations creates
schedule 3 that lists the fishes exempt from Section 49 of the fisheries Act.
8.6 The New South Wales Government
New South Wales Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38 sections 209, 210 and 211 declare certain fish
and plants to be noxious and it is an offence to possess or sell noxious fish. Section 217 controls the
importation of live fishes into the state. Section 340 of the New South Wales Fisheries Management
(General) Regulations 2002 declares certain fish, aquatic invertebrates and plants to be noxious.
Glossolepis leggetti is not listed as noxious in this Regulation.
8.7 The Victorian Government
Section 75 of the Victorian Fisheries Act 1995, allows the declaration of certain species as "Noxious
Aquatic Species". The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment publishes the Noxious
Aquatic Species List on their web site. Glossolepis leggetti does not appear on this list. The list is available
on the World Wide Web at universal resource locator http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/
10. Assess the likelihood that the species could establish a breeding
population in the Australian environment should it ever be released
from effective human control.
The latest risk assessment process for estimating the ability of a fish species establishing within the
Australian environment was prepared by Mary Bomford in 2006 Using the provisions in “Risk assessment
for the establishment of exotic vertebrates in Australia: recalibration and refinement of models” A report
produced for the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Commonwealth of Australia 2006
Using the copy of Climex for PC provided to the Author by Mary Bomfpord the following calculations
were done to provide a score against the provisions in the assessment process.
BOMFORD ASSESSMENTS
SPECIES: Glossolepis leggetti
Score A, Climate Match
Number of squares within 60% of the mean:
(No. 5)
Number of squares within 50% of the mean:
(No. 6)
Number of squares within 40% of the mean:
(No. 7)
Number of squares within 30% of the mean:
(No. 8)
Number of squares within 20% of the mean:
(No. 9)
Number of squares within 10% of the mean:
(No. 10)
NT
Aus
Total =
12
115
Score:
2
3(Ref: fishbase.org, PC CLIMATE)
Score B, Overseas Range
Number of 1° x 1° grids in which species occures overseas.
No. of squares :
<4
(Ref: fishbase.org, googleearth.com)
Score:
0
Score C, Establishment
Locations of establishment incidence:
Score:
1
nil
(Ref: fishbase.org)
Score D, Introduction Success
Percentage of Introduction events that have been successful
Introductions:
nil
Successful:
NT
2
7
3
0
0
0
Aus
94
19
2
Score:
(Ref: fishbase.org)
2
Score E, Taxa risk
Genus:
Introductions:
Successful:
Score:
1
1 unknown
Family:
Introductions:
Successful:
Score:
5
5 unknown
(Ref: fishbase.org / M. Bomford)
(Ref: fishbase.org / M. Bomford)
2
AUS
Total:
8
The score of 8 according to the assessment model gives the fish a moderate chance of establishment.
Establishment Risk Rank
Extreme
Very High
High
Moderate
Low
Very Low
Establishment Risk Score
13
11–12
9–10
6–8
4–5
≤3
11. Provide a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact of the
species should it establish feral population/s in Australia. Include, but
do not restrict your assessment to the impact of this species on:
• similar niche species (ie. competition with other species for food,
shelter etc.)
• probable prey/food sources
• habitat and local environmental conditions.
11.1
Likelihood of Establishment following “escape”
If this species were to escape from effective control into a natural location where climate would enable it to
survive it will most likely be limited to North Queensland, North of Western Australia and Northern
Territory. There is very little of Australia’s climate that matches that of the natural origin in Irian Jaya.
(See Climex calculations attached to Reference section Appendix A.)
Glossolepis leggetti has a small distribution in North Western Irian Jaya restricted to the Wapogo River
system and its tributaries. The natural spread of this species would occur similar to other rainbowfishes.
Some of the spread mechanisms for rainbowfishes are upstream and downstream migrations especially in
times of greater flow during wet season floods. Barriers such as waterfalls will prevent upstream
migrations of rainbowfishes and the marine environment is devoid of rainbowfishes so the estuaries of
rivers prevent rainbowfishes from moving to new rivers via the sea (Allen 1995).
The most likely areas where the fish would establish are where the suitable climate is adjacent areas of
more dense population ,where the likelihood of accidental or intentional release is greater. Possible areas
may include areas such as Townsville to Cairns, Queensland and the areas adjacent Darwin in the Northern
Territory. The likely hood of escaping effective human control in the Kimberley region of WA is reduced
because of the low population density.
Since the most likely scenario for release into the wild will be by aquarium escape into the disturbed
habitats surrounding major centres of population the survival of this species is extremely unlikely. Even if
somebody was prepared to transport expensive broodstock (plastic bags, oxygen, styrofoam boxes etc) to
one of the possible suitable natural habitats (e.g. Lake Argyle in W.A. or Lawn Hill Gorge National Park in
Queensland) and these conspicuous pink and grey fish were to avoid the formidable spectrum of natural
predators ( an array of waterbirds, an even larger array of predatory fish such as barramundi, grunters etc,
file snakes, and so on) and the species became established it is most likely that it would peacefully co-exist
with the other small forage species there just as several species of native rainbowfishes, glassfishes,
hardyheads and small gudgeons peacefully co-exist in many other habitats in Northern Australia. The
naturally restricted habitat of G. leggetti tends to suggest its behaviour is that of low invasiveness because it
is not already widespread despite suitable habitat surrounding its natural distribution. It is also possible that
locally predators in that area are efficient in controlling its numbers and reducing its spread into adjacent
habitats. Glossolepis have no demonstrated salt tolerance therefore no tendency to invade other drainages
via estuary migration (Allen and Cross 1982, Allen 1989, Allen 1991, Allen 1995, Allen et al 2002, Herbert
and Peeters 1995, Lake 1978, Larson and Martin 1990, Leggett and Merrick 1987, Lever 1996, Merrick
and Schmida 1984).
11.2
Similar Niche Species
If Glossolepis leggetti were to establish in the wild, it would mix with the similar forage fishes and most
likely school with local rainbowfishes, glassfishes, hardyheads, gudgeons and other similar species. It
would be competing with the other small omnivores that eat small crustaceans, aquatic insects, terrestrial
insects and algae. In some river systems in Australia, up to four species of rainbowfish co-exist without
either obvious competition or inter-breeding(e.g. Mary River, N.T., Jardine River, Qld.).
It can be assumed that because Glossolepis leggetti is similar to and is most closely related to Glossolepis
multisquamatus and other members of the Glossolepis genus the behaviour will be similar. No aquarium
observations of Glososlepis leggettii have been recorded but other closely related fish from this genera are
mid to surface dwellers, exhibiting little aggression toward other fish except from breeding males and this
aggression is stylized display that is harmless and generally ignored by fishes of other species and mostly
ignored by their own species except other males trying to attract available females (D Wilson pers obs).
11.3
Probable Prey/Food sources
Generally rainbowfishes are omnivorous eating mainly algae which they scrape from harder surfaces with
their villiform teeth that extend to the outside of the jaws. They will also take advantage of small
crustaceans, aquatic and terrestrial insects when available
Leggett’s Rainbowfish Glossolepis leggettii is a small omnivore, a second order consumer that itself would
form part of the diet of larger predatory fishes. It is a relatively small species with a maximum recorded
length of 92 mm (Allan & Renyaan 1998). The predators in the Wapago River System recorded by Allen
an Renyaan (1998) are fishes from the genus Anguilla, Arius, Neosilurus, Hephaestus, Mesopristes,
Glossamia, Lutjanus, Toxetes, Glossogobius, Belanobranchus, Butis, Eleotris, Mogurnda, Opheleotris, and
Prionobutis are similar but less in number than the predators in the undisturbed habitats in the North of
Australia.
11.4
Impact on Habitat and Local Environmental Conditions
Glossolepis leggetti are mid water swimmer and thus cause no disturbance to the substrate or cause water
turbidity.
Their dietary components (algae and aquatic organisms) are essentially unlimited in any healthy ecosystem.
This species breeds by laying eggs on aquatic vegetation or debris and does not damage the habitat doing
so. They exhibit no parental care so have no extra biological advantage over other rainbowfish or other egg
laying species.
The introduction of disease from the introduction of a Glossolepis sp. into the natural environment is
unlikely to pose any further risk than other endemic freshwater fish species as there are no known fish
diseases or strains specific to Melanotaeniids. Any diseases that are carried into native waters by escaped
G. leggetti (Fishbase records diseases in other Glossolepis species such as fin rot, flukes and general
bacterial infections) are unlikely to be more lethal to Australian rainbowfishes than would diseases they
may already by carrying.
In particular, with Mycobacteriosis, a common captive disease of rainbowfish worldwide, there is no
Mycobacterium species specific to melanotaeniids (ANGFA, 2002). Kahn et al. (1999) stated that
mycobacteriosis equally affects a wide range of freshwater and marine aquarium fish in Australia.
There is no firm evidence, from all of the areas where other Glossolepis, e.g. G. incisus, are raised, that it
has formed or will form feral populations. In the unlikely event that it would in northern Australia, those
populations would be more likely to be under pressure from native Australian aquatic predators than would
populations of other small exotic fishes (such as those of guppies and swordtails which are a permitted
import to Australia and have formed feral populations) because their habits would be more 'familiar' to
predators.
12. What conditions or restrictions, if any, could be applied to the
import of the species to reduce any potential for negative environmental
impacts (e.g. single sex imports).
Arthington et al. (1999) considered that there is a low or residual probability that New Guinea
rainbowfishes would establish feral populations in Australia. Indeed, G. incisus has been here,
and popular, for more than 25 years (and other New Guinea rainbowfishes are cultivated here
also). Permitting G. leggetti into Australia would not create undue pressure on the populations in the
Wapagoa River system as all stocks would come initially from German breeders and then from commercial
facilities to which these captive bred stocks are distributed. Further demand from the Wapagoa River
system would be unnecessary once captive stocks are established as ease of supply would be greater from
these sources (as it would be very difficult to form an aquarium fish exporting business in West Papua).
G. leggetti poses no greater threat to Australian aquatic biodiversity than does the other Glossolepis sp. (G.
incisus) currently permitted for import.
The distinctive colouration of this species, likely popularity of this species among hobbyists, and expectant
relatively high price should together mitigate against any likelihood of accidental establishment of feral
populations.
It is unknown wether this species has any distinctive features that would make it readily identifiable at a
small size, rainbowfish fry at 10 millimeters are relatively difficult to differentiate to a species level. It is
therefore recommended that any importation of these fish should be a minimum length of 4 centimeters for
ease of identification.
As it is planned that species is to be imported via a commercial facility in Europe and then distributed via a
commercial facility in Australia it may be difficult to control the distribution and abundance of the species
once established in Australia. The establishment of a permit system would not be feasible on an individual
fish basis as it would require coordination of permits from the wholesaler, to the individual retailer and then
on to the individual purchaser, certainly crossing state boundaries in the process. It may be possible to
affect a permit type system on specified individual wholesalers allowing them alone to import and
distribute the fish species, thus controlling the number of sources of this species once they enter Australia.
Retailers/traders should be encouraged to engage in "best practice" and to provide relevant information
brochures to buyers of this species. Once initial stocks of this fish species have been established in the
hands of private aquarists (for example over a 5 year period), the permit system may then be scaled down
or deleted. At present, there are numerous Melanotaeniid species being kept in Australia that have been
derived from very small numbers of fish, imported pre-1986 (when ideal breeding techniques were still
being developed) and surviving despite very narrow genetic variability. The genetic basis of this species
will be considerably wider and thus the need for “fresh” wild stock imports at a later date will be unlikely.
Importation of single sex or reproductively altered individuals would not be of any value to the recipient
aquarist and would be counterproductive to the goals of ANGFA and its members.
It is considered that Glossolepis leggetti should be approved for importation into Australia via the
proposed channels outlined in this document.
References
Allen, G.R. (1989). Freshwater Fishes of Australia, TFH Publications, New Jersey.
Allen, Gerald R., (1991) “Freshwater Fishes of New Guinea” Christensen Research Institute Publication
no. 9, Madang, PNG
Allen, Gerald .R. (1995) “Rainbowfishes in Nature and in the Aquarium” Tetra Press, Germany.
Allen, G.R. and N.J. Cross (1982). Rainbowfishes of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Angus &
Robertson.
Allen, G.R., S.H. Midgley and M. Allen (2002). Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia,
Western Australian Museum.
Allen, Gerald R. and Renyaan, Samuel J. ( 1998 ) “Three New Species of Rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae)
from Irian Jaya, Indonesia”, Aqua Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, Vol. 3 (2), September
1998.
ANGFA. 2002. Response to the Thorogood report on Glossolepis incisus. Australia New
Guinea Fishes Association. 15 p.
ANGFA Database available on the world wide web at URL http://db.angfa.org.au
AQIS (1999) Policy Document 99/2750a “CONDITIONS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF LIVE
FRESHWATER ORNAMENTAL FINFISH INTO AUSTRALIA”
http://www.daff.gov.au/corporate_docs/publications/pdf/market_access/biosecurity/animal/1999/99077a.pdf
Arnold, K.E. (2000). Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling.
PHD thesis, University of QLD.
Arthington, A.H., Milton, D.A. and McKay, R.J. 1983. Effects of urban development and
habitat alterations on the distribution and abundance of native exotic freshwater fish in
the Brisbane region, Queensland. Australian Journal of Ecology, 8: 87-101.
Bomford, Mary (2006) “Risk assessment for the establishment of exotic vertebrates in Australia:
recalibration and refinement of models” A report produced for the Department of the Environment and
Heritage, Commonwealth of Australia
Bomford, Mary and Glover, Julie (June 2004) “Risk assessment model for the
import and keeping of exotic freshwater and estuarine finfish”, A report produced by the Bureau of Rural
Sciences for The Department of Environment and Heritage.
Briggs, Glen. (2006) Personal communication in his capacity as international fish buyer for Aquarium
Industries, Melbourne, Australia. Telephone: 03 9409 9300
Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species threatened species database available on the
universal resource locator http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html information downloaded 07
March 2006
Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Australian Commonwealth Legislation
available as an electronic publication from the world wide web at universal resource locator
http://www.deh.gov.au/epbc/index.html
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2006) .FishBase.
World Wide Web electronic publication.
http://www.fishbase.org, version (01/2006).
Herbert, B. and J. Peeters (1995). Freshwater Fishes of Far North Queensland Department of Primary
Industries, Queensland.
International International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources red list.
http://www.redlist.org/search/search-basic
IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 06
March 2006.
Jarred Patrick, Bay Tropical Fish, Brisbane, personal communication to Author.
Kahn, S.A., Wilson, P.W., Pereira, R.P., Hayder, H. and Gerrity, S.E. 1999. Import risk
analysis on live ornamental finfish. Canberra: Australian Quarantine and Inspection
Service. 172 p.
Kailola, P.J. 2004 "Risk assessment of ten species of ornamental fish under the Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999”
Lake J.S., (1978). Australian Freshwater Fishes – an Illustrated Field Guide. Nelson, Australia.
Larson, H.K. and K.C. Martin (1990). Freshwater Fishes of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory
Museum, Darwin.
Leggett, R. and J.R. Merrick (1987). Australian Native Fishes for Aquariums, Griffin Press.
Lever, C. (1996). Naturalised Fishes of the World Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-444745-7
Mack,Andrew L. and Alonso, Leanne E. (editors) (2000) “A Biological Assessment of the Wapoga River
Area of Northwest Irian Jaya, Indonesia.” RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 14, Conservation
International, Washington, DC.
McGrouther, M. (2006).Australian Museum Fish Fact on-line
http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/glossary.htm
McCosker, J. (1998). Mate choice and sexual selection in two species of Australian rainbowfish (M.
duboulayi and M. splendida splendida): implication for speciation. Honours thesis, University of
Queensland.
Merrick, J.R. and G.E. Schmida (1984). Australian Freshwater Fishes, Biology and Management. Griffin
Press.
Northern Territory of Australia Fisheries Act and Northern Territory of Australia Fisheries Regulations As
in force from 19 December 2001. Northern Territory Government Legislation available as an electronic
publication from world wide web universal resource locator http://www.nt.gov.au/dcm/legislation/current.html
Phelong, P.C. (1996) “Climex: a system to predict the distribution of an organism based on climate
preferences”. Available as a download from West Australian Government universal resource locator
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au
Queensland Fisheries Act 1994. Available as a download from universal resource locator http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/F/FisherA94
Queensland Fisheries Regulation 1995. Available as a download from universal resource locator www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/F/FisherR95
Schmida, G.E. (2000) “Rainbowfish, A Complete Pet Owners Manual”
Tappin, Adrian. (2005) “Home of the rainbowfish” available on World Wide Web electronic publication at
URL http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/index.htm
University of Queensland (1998). Rainbowfish Workshop. Proceedings of workshop discussing various
student projects – UQ and Griffith Universities.
Appendix A
Climate Comparison using the Climate program from WA Government Weed Risk Assessment Program.
Comparing the Irian Jaya Climate with Australian Climate.
CLIMATE
Climate prediction system
Analysis results for Irian Jaya
Summarizing prediction for statistics
16 variables in analysis.
5 location records analysed.
Cummulative method used. Closest Euclidian match used.
1 Mean annual
temp.
2 Min temp. cool
month
3 Max temp.
warm month
4 Average temp
range
5 Mean temp.
cool quarter
6 Mean temp.
warm quarter
7 Mean temp. wet
quarter
8 Mean temp. dry
quarter
9 Average annual
rainfall
10 Rainfall wet
month
11 Rainfall dry
month
12 CV monthly
rainfall
13 Rainfall wet
quarter
14 Rainfall dry
quarter
15 Rainfall cool
quarter
16 Rainfall warm
quarter
MEAN
26.52
St. Dev
0.33
SKEW
-0.62
KURTOSIS
2.29
MIN
26.01
MAX
26.87
21.24
1.02
0.72
2.04
20.30
22.80
32.10
1.46
0.70
2.32
30.60
34.40
10.86
2.21
-0.06
2.15
7.80
13.80
25.78
0.67
0.18
1.67
25.00
26.67
27.15
0.74
0.29
2.32
26.20
28.25
26.31
0.60
0.31
1.75
25.63
27.13
26.67
0.80
0.02
1.55
25.73
27.67
2568.80
560.76
0.25
2.44
1827.00
3397.00
361.60
146.99
1.23
2.93
239.00
615.00
113.60
33.58
-0.05
1.67
70.00
154.00
39.79
18.59
0.80
2.29
22.84
69.30
971.20
413.11
1.42
3.14
709.00
1702.00
118.25
-0.19
1.86
228.00
532.00
517.20
0.94
2.52
304.00
1633.00
150.57
0.38
1.25
341.00
661.00
391.80
786.40
479.60
Australian prediction:
Data point Match
Summary of Prediction
0
0
0
0
locations within 50 % of the mean.
locations within 40 % of the mean.
locations within 30 % of the mean.
locations within 20 % of the mean.
0 matching locations from 2798 comparisons.
The output location file is Irian Jaya.doc and possesses the following format:
latitude longitude code - where code is a number proportional to climate similarity.
incisus2