Ambassis jacksoniensis, commonly known as the Port Jackson glassfish or Port Jackson perchlet, is a species of fish in the family Ambassidae native to eastern Australia. It gains its common name from its transparent appearance.[1]
| Ambassis jacksoniensis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Family: | Ambassidae |
| Genus: | Ambassis |
| Species: | A. jacksoniensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Ambassis jacksoniensis Macleay, 1881
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| Synonyms | |
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Pseudambassis jacksoniensis Macleay | |
Taxonomy
editWilliam John Macleay described the Port Jackson glassfish as Pseudambassis jacksoniensis in 1881 from a specimen collected in Port Jackson, noting that the length was three and a third times the fishes' height.[2] The species name relates to the location it was described.[1] It was classified in the new genus Velambassis by Gilbert Whitley in 1935, on the basis of having weaker dorsal spines than other members of the family.[3] Allen and Burgess found no reason for the species not to be in the genus Ambassis and reassigned it there in 1990.[4]
This species and the co-occurring estuary glassfish (A. marianus) are the only two members of the genus found in temperate waters. The others are found in the waters of northern Australia and southeast Asia.[4]
Description
editReaching a standard length of 7 cm (2+3⁄4 in), the Port Jackson glassfish has a silver and semi-transparent body and head covered with large cycloid scales. It has a short deeply-notched dorsal fin and forked tail fin.[1] It is slimmer than the related A. marianus—its body depth is 33 to 38% of standard length compared to the latter species' body depth of 37 to 44% of standard length. The Port Jackson glassfish also has a lateral line running the length of its body, while that of its relative is partial.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThe Port Jackson glassfish is native to coastal eastern Australia, from Moreton Bay in Queensland through to Narooma in southern New South Wales.[1] It lives in estuaries and protected brackish tidal streams that have mangroves growing along the margins.[4]
Feeding
editThe Port Jackson glassfish feeds on zooplankton, foraging from the water surface to the substrate.[1] It is a food item of the little pied and little black cormorants.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Bray, Dianne J. (2011). "Port Jackson Glassfish, Ambassis jacksoniensis (Macleay 1881)". Fishes of Australia. Museum Victoria. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ Macleay, William John (1881). "Descriptive catalogue of the fishes of Australia. Part 1". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 5 (3): 302–444 [340]. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.15887.
- ^ Whitley, Gilbert Percy (1935). "Fishes from Princess Charlotte Bay, North Queensland". Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide). 5 (3): 345–65.
- ^ a b c d Allen, Gerald R.; Burgess, Warren E. (1990). "A review of the glassfishes (Chandidae) of Australia and New Guinea" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. 34: 139–206 [167–69].
- ^ Barker, Robin; Vestjens, Wilhelmus (1989). Food of Australian Birds 1. Non-passerines. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 75, 77. ISBN 9780643102965.