Cherax latimanus sp. nov., a new burrow-dwelling freshwater crayfish (Decapoda, Parastacidae) from the mid-Murray River catchment, Australia

A new species of freshwater crayfish in the southern hemisphere family Parastacidae is described from the Murray Darling Basin (MDB), eastern Australia. The Swamp Yabby, Cherax latimanus sp. nov., is found in the mid-Murray River area of the states of New South Wales and Victoria and is only the third species of Cherax found naturally occurring in the MDB. It is morphologically distinguished from all other species of Cherax by the presence of marginal mesial dactylar basal spines and extensive ventral propodal setation. It is found in sympatry with the widespread but morphologically similar Common Yabby, Cherax destructor Clark, 1936, but can be distinguished by a suite of morphometric and meristic characters that include a broad rostrum lacking an apical spine, very broad chelae with deep punctations on the lateral propodal edge and ventral propodal setation, two prominent dactylar teeth, one mesial carpal spine, dorsal meral spines present, no setae on carpal mesial margin, cervical spines absent or tiny, and by genetic data. Cherax latimanus is further diagnosed by its distinctive biology: it is not found in permanent aquatic habitats such as streams or billabongs, spending the majority of its time in extensive, terrestrial, burrow networks containing some water, in ephemerally wet habitats such as drainage lines, roadside drains, depressions, swamps and cleared areas of pasture in lowland to foothill areas. It is occasionally found in stream habitats but only during large flood events when burrow systems are inundated.

Revision of the genus Hannia (Teleostei, Terapontidae), with description of a new species, Hannia wintoni, from the Kimberley, Western Australia

The systematics of the genus Hannia Vari 1978, endemic to freshwater habitats of remote north-western Australia, is revised in light of recent collections in the region and a molecular study of the group that identified an undescribed candidate species. A new freshwater fish species (Hannia wintoni sp. nov) is described based on analysis of multiple nuclear genetic markers (53 allozyme loci), mitochondrial DNA sequence data (601 bp cytochrome b) and morphology (examination of a suite of 66 morphometric and meristic characters). Head profile, postorbital length, maximum length, preopercular spines and pectoral-fin rays are characters that best distinguish H. wintoni sp. nov from its only congener, H. greewayi. While the existing description of H. greenwayi is robust and accurate, we present a number of additional characters that enhance to the original description, based on type and fresh material. Information on the known distribution, habitats and conservation status of the two species is summarised. The new species is a narrow-range endemic.

Multispecies models reveal that eDNA metabarcoding is more sensitive than backpack electrofishing for conducting fish surveys in freshwater streams

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling can provide accurate, cost-effective, landscape-level data on species distributions. Previous studies have compared the sensitivity of eDNA sampling to traditional sampling methods for single species, but similar comparative studies on multispecies eDNA metabarcoding are rare. Using hierarchical site occupancy detection models, we examined whether key choices associated with eDNA metabarcoding (primer selection, low-abundance read filtering and the number of positive water samples used to classify a species as present at a site) affect the sensitivity of metabarcoding, relative to backpack electrofishing for fish in freshwater streams. Under all scenarios (teleostei and vertebrate primers; 0%, 0.1% and 1% read filtering thresholds; one or two positive samples required to classify species as present), we found that eDNA metabarcoding is, on average, more sensitive than electrofishing. Combining vertebrate and teleostei markers resulted in higher detection probabilities relative to the use of either marker in isolation. Increasing the threshold used to filter low-abundance reads decreased species detection probabilities but did not change our overall finding that eDNA metabarcoding was more sensitive than electrofishing. Using a threshold of two positive water samples (out of five) to classify a species as present typically had negligible effects on detection probabilities compared to using one positive water sample. Our findings demonstrate that eDNA metabarcoding is generally more sensitive than electrofishing for conducting fish surveys in freshwater streams, and that this outcome is not sensitive to methodological decisions associated with metabarcoding.

Captive breeding of two rare non-migratory galaxiids (Teleostei: Galaxiidae) for species conservation

Devising effective techniques for breeding and rearing rare non-migratory galaxiids is urgently required for conservation purposes where few animals exist in the wild for translocation or reintroduction. The development of such protocols is particularly pertinent in light of recent intense widespread bushfires and long-term drought in southeastern Australia, which have increased the likelihood of the need for captive maintenance to protect and recover remnant species. In this study, we promoted reproductive maturation via manipulation of day length and temperature, and produced viable offspring from two small, endemic freshwater galaxiids, Galaxias fuscus (Mack 1936) and Galaxias longifundus (Raadik 2014) using in vitro propagation techniques. Propagation trials resulted in 425 oocytes being stripped from four ripe G. fuscus females, and 1527 oocytes from three ripe G. longifundus females. Of these, 342 (80.5%) G. fuscus and 968 (63.4%) G. longifundus eggs hatched into larvae. Newly hatched G. fuscus and G. longifundus larvae were transparent, and 8.4–9.7 mm (mean 9.0 mm TL) and 7.1–8.9 mm (mean 8.3 mm TL) consecutively. Absorption of the yolk sac by G. fuscus larvae (1.5–2.0 mm diameter) was complete 6–7 days after hatching, and for G. longifundus (1.0–1.4 mm diameter) 12–13 days after hatching. One-month-old G. fuscus measured ~16 mm and two-month-old larvae ~22 mm, and one-month-old G. longifundus ~11 mm. Methods and techniques employed may aid broader galaxiid conservation efforts.

Big trouble for little fish: identifying Australian freshwater fishes in imminent risk of extinction

Globally, freshwater fishes are declining at an alarming rate. Despite much evidence of catastrophic declines, few Australian species are listed as threatened under national legislation. We aim to help redress this by identifying the Australian freshwater fishes that are in the most immediate risk of extinction. For 22 freshwater fishes (identified as highly threatened by experts), we used structured expert elicitation to estimate the probability of extinction in the next ~20 years, and to identify key threats and priority management needs. All but one of the 22 species are small (<150mm total length), 12 have been formally described only in the last decade, with seven awaiting description. Over 90% of these species were assessed to have a >50% probability of extinction in the next ~20 years. Collectively, the biggest factor contributing to the likelihood of extinction of the freshwater fishes considered is that they occur in small (distributions ≤44km2), geographically isolated populations, and are threatened by a mix of processes (particularly alien fishes and climate change). Nineteen of these species are unlisted on national legislation, so legislative drivers for recovery actions are largely absent. Research has provided strong direction on how to manage ~35% of known threats to the species considered, and, of these, ~36% of threats have some management underway (although virtually none are at the stage where intervention is no longer required). Increased resourcing, management intervention and social attitudinal change is urgently needed to avert the impending extinction of Australia’s most imperilled freshwater fishes.