Animal Species:Cox's Gudgeon, Gobiomorphus coxii (Krefft, 1864)

Cox's Gudgeon occurs from southern Queensland to southern Victoria, in coastal freshwaters and inland up to about 700 m altitude. Juveniles are able to climb waterfalls by rotating their pectoral fins so that the inside surfaces of the fins are pressed against the wall creating suction.

Cox's Gudgeon, Gobiomorphus coxii

Cox's Gudgeon, Gobiomorphus coxii
Sascha Schulz © Sascha Schulz

Alternative Name/s

Mulgoa Gudgeon, Nepean Gudgeon

Identification

Cox's Gudgeon has a moderately elongate body and a slightly flattened head.

Live fish are brown, olive or purplish above, yellow to bluish on the sides and pale below. There are dark blotches on the upper sides and a dark stripe on the side of the body. The stripe is sometimes broken into blotches. Two brown bands extend from the rear of the eye. The two dorsal fins have dark stripes.

Size range

The species grows to 19 cm in length but is more commonly seen up to 15 cm.

Distribution

Cox's Gudgeon occurs from southern Queensland to southern Victoria.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Gobiomorphus coxii

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Cox's Gudgeon specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is found in coastal freshwaters and inland up to about 700 m altitude.

Juveniles are often found at lower altitudes. It is believed that they are initially washed downstream and over spring and summer complete an upstream migration . They are able to climb waterfalls by rotating their pectoral fins so that the inside surfaces of the fins are pressed against the wall creating suction.

Classification

Species:
coxii
Genus:
Gobiomorphus
Family:
Eleotridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
  2. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Larson, H.K. & D.F. Hoese in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
  5. Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fish, ichthyology, Cox's Gudgeon, Gobiomorphus coxii, Eleotridae, greenish-purplish, pale, long and skinny, 10 cm - 30 cm, blotches/mottled, freshwater, dark blotches on top, dark stripe on side of body,