Frequently Asked Questions
Eastern Freshwater Cod distribution
In August 1999, delegates from Project Big Fish visited the Fish Department. They were keen to gather data on the past distribution of the Eastern Freshwater Cod, Maccullochella ikei Rowland, 1986. In particular they were interested in whether or not the Eastern Freshwater Cod had been recorded from the Richmond River system in or before the 1930s.
A search of the database revealed three fishes of the genus Maccullochella from the Richmond drainage. Of great interest however was a fish collected in 1934. It was in good condition and we were able to identify it as an Eastern Freshwater Cod.
This one specimen is an example of how the fish collection can be used to document the past distribution of a species. It was collected before the Eastern Freshwater Cod was described as a new species in 1986. The fish was originally identified as a Trout Cod Maccullochella macquariensis, (Cuvier, 1829), and had been stored in the fish collection under this name until the visit by the people from Project Big Fish. This single specimen provides strong evidence that the natural distribution of the Eastern Freshwater Cod included the Richmond River drainage.
Further reading
- Harris, J.H. & S.J. Rowland in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
- Rowland, S.J. 1993. Maccullochella ikei, an endangered species of freshwater cod (Pisces: Percichthyidae) from the Clarence River system, NSW and M. peelii mariensis, a new subspecies from the Mary River system, Qld. Records of the Australian Museum. 45: 121-145.
