Black mudfish
| Black mudfish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Osmeriformes |
| Family: | Galaxiidae |
| Subfamily: | Galaxiinae |
| Genus: | Neochanna |
| Species: | N. diversus |
| Binomial name | |
| Neochanna diversus Stokell, 1949[1] | |
The black mudfish, Neochanna diversus, is a galaxiid of the family Galaxiidae,[2] found only in swamps and wetlands in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand, from Kaitaia in the north to the Mokau River in the south. An 85-90% loss of wetlands has occurred, especially from Waikato and Hauraki Plains. The most significant threat is wetland drainage, and this has slowed so the decline has stabilized; other threats include mosquitofish (which eat juveniles and compete with adults), pollution, sedimentation, and fires.[3]
It is considered a local delicacy by the local Maori populace when prepared using ancestral cooking techniques. Its length is up to 12 cm. Efforts by the New Zealand Department of Conservation and regional councils have helped protect and reintroduce the fish.[4]
References
- ↑ "Neochanna diversus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 6 June 2006.
- ↑ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). "Neochanna diversus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2006. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 12 May 2006.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Neochanna diversus" in FishBase. March 2006 version.
- ↑ NIWA June 2006