Teleostei (teleosts) >
Centrarchiformes (Basses) >
Percichthyidae (Temperate perches)
Etymology: Nannatherina: Latin, nannus = small + Greek, atherina, the Greek name for the eperlane; 1770 (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: William Edward Balston (1848–1918) was a wealthy and successful English businessman who was interested in ornithology in particular, and natural history in general. Two birds and two mammals are also named after him. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Regan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 5 - 10. Temperate; 15°C - 30°C (Ref. 2060); 31°S - 34°S
Oceania: coastal drainages of southwest Australia between Two People Bay (near Albany) and the Blackwood River. Also reported from the Goodga River to Gin Gin Brook, western Australia (Ref. 7300).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 5.7 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); 9.0 cm TL (female); common length : 6.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); max. reported age: 3.00 years (Ref. 41789)
Is the rarest of all the endemic freshwater fishes of southwestern Australia. Inhabits coastal streams, lakes, ponds and swamps, where the water is dark and acidic (pH as low as 3.0) and has a large seasonal fluctuation in temperature (11-30°C) (Ref. 27892, 44894). Favors shallow water and is commonly found in association with tall sedge thickets (Ref. 44894). Larva feeds mainly on cladocerans, copepods and dipteran larvae, while juveniles and adults ingest mostly terrestrial fauna (Ref. 6398, 44894). Breeds in the middle of winter in response to flooding. Female lays between 500-1600 eggs each. The majority of adult perishes shortly after spawning at the end of their first year (Ref. 44894). Both male and female attain sexual maturity at the end of their first year of life when they have attained an average TL of 6.0 and 6.3 cm respectively (Ref. 27892). Co-occurs with Edelia vittata over part of its range, but is generally more scarce (Ref. 5259, 44894). Aquarium conditions: pH=7.2, H=8, 24°C water temperature, rock and plant cover, carnivore, peaceful community fish, egg layer (Ref. 6398).
Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen and J.E. Hanley, 1989. Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Vol. 7. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 665 p. (Ref. 7300)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.1 ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1; K=1.31-1.69; Tmax=3; mean Fec=1243;).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (11 of 100).
![Image of Nannatherina balstoni (Balston\](/images/thumbnails/gif/tn_PERCICT0.gif "Image of Nannatherina balstoni (Balston\")
