Elizabeth Springs goby
Elizabeth Springs goby
(Chlamydogobius micropterus).
© Gunther Shmida
Common name: Elizabeth Springs goby
Scientific name: Chlamydogobius micropterus
Legislative name: Chlamydogobius sp. A
Conservation status: The Elizabeth Springs goby is 'Endangered' in Queensland (Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992) and 'Endangered' nationally (Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
Description: The Elizabeth Springs goby is a small freshwater fish, about the size of a small goldfish (60mm long). The goby has a greyish-olive back, lighter sides and a cream to white belly. Mature males become golden olive. The first dorsal (back) fin is grey with a gold yellow edge and an iridescent blue spot towards the tail. The remaining fins and tail are blue grey with a whitish blue margin.
Habitat and distribution: Elizabeth Springs gobies are only known from Elizabeth Springs, a 'spring complex'1 that is approximately 80km south-east of Boulia, in western Queensland. Elizabeth Springs is a group of about 40 spring wetlands that are fed by the Great Artesian Basin and occur in an area of about 1500m by 400m. The springs range from dry or non€‘flowing mounds with little or no vegetation to well-vegetated springs with open water, and can be up to about 15,000sq.m in area. However, the Elizabeth Springs goby only occurs in some of the larger springs where the water depth is greater than 100mm. Gobies have been found in as few as 5 spring pools to as many as 14 spring pools at different monitoring times between 1994 and 2002. This indicates that gobies disperse between springs during times of flooding or heavy rainfall.
Behaviour and life history: Elizabeth Springs gobies shelter in emergent vegetation (vegetation that sits above the water level) during daylight, and at night they have been observed some distance from cover and are apparently foraging. The long, coiled intestine of the goby suggests that it eats mostly algae. However, captive populations have also been observed eating small planktonic crustaceans.
Spawning (egg laying) usually occurs at night at temperatures above 20°C, and lasts about one hour. The male selects a site, often beneath a rock, and attempts to attract females by extending his fins and making jerky swimming movements. After spawning, the male is left to guard approximately 40 - 100 eggs (each between 2.5 - 3.0mm long), which are attached to the ceiling of the cave. Hatching commences after 9 - 10 days and newly hatched larvae are 5 - 6mm long.
Threatening processes: The Elizabeth Springs goby is threatened by a decline in the rate of water flowing out of the Elizabeth Springs. This flow rate is about 70 percent less than what it was over 100 years ago. This decline is probably due to the artificial extraction of groundwater through bores, in western Queensland and elsewhere, to provide water for people and stock. The capping of bores may result in enhanced spring flows and expansion of spring wetland habitat within the Great Artesian Basin. This may result in the expansion of goby habitat at Elizabeth Springs. Grazing and trampling of spring wetlands by cattle, pigs and goats also threatens the goby by polluting and destroying the pools in which it lives.
What can be done to help this species?
- Help prevent further spread of exotic pest fish by never releasing these species into natural waterways and reporting sightings to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (call 13 25 23).
- Maintain fences around Elizabeth Springs to exclude domestic stock, feral pigs and goats while still allowing access by native animals.
- Support a national program aimed at protecting Elizabeth Springs flow rate through controlling the flow of artesian bores and capping free flowing bores.
Further information:
Fensham R., Fairfax R. and Wager R. 2006. Draft recovery plan for the Elizabeth Springs goby, Chlamydogobius micropterus 2007-2011. Report to Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane.
1. In Queensland, a 'spring complex' is considered a group of springs where neighbouring pairs of springs are not more than 6km apart and all occur on similar landforms (Fensham & Fairfax 2003).
Last updated: 21 August 2007