Native hybrids

[Member]

A question about different species of native fish crossbreeding in another thread prompted me to start this as it is something that has interested me for a while.
It would be unfortunate if we were to to end up like some other countries where populations of unique species of fish were hybridised by the release of closely related species outside of there natural range. We have regulations against this but it is a fact that people out of ignorance or intentionally do it, there is also the deliberate production of hybrids in aquaculture. Attached is a pic of a Barred Grunter x ? hybrid caught in Lesley Harrison Dam these fish are common in the dam and breed true to this form.

cheers,
Steve.

[Member]

I'm pretty sure I have some spangled perch (grunter) X Barred grunter hybrids in the freezer at home that came from Somerset. Need to get them into Qld Museum for ID. We know it can & does happen unfortunately.

Thanks for the picture.

fitz..

[Member]

Interesting...even more so considering that no fishing is allowed at Leslie Harrison Dam

[Member]

Interesting...even more so considering that no fishing is allowed at Leslie Harrison Dam

Even though it should be open to fishing. All the more reason for a native fish stocking program to control the noxious fish & the freaks like shown above, AND for recreational fishing to add some more pressure.

fitz..

[Member]

Couldn't agree more Fitzy....

[Member]

The Murray cod is probably the most polymorphic of the natives.
There is reasonable anecdotal evidence that the Mary River Cod might be genetically compromised by the introduction
of western river fish into the Mary some time back.
DNA sampling may disclose otherwise.
There most certainly has been Murray cod and trout cod interbreeding in habitat both occupy.
This has been confirmed by NSW Fisheries following leads I supplied back in the 1970s.
The attached is one such pic. The smaller fish is a hybrid.

[Member]

Interesting Harro.
Dad and his mates always swore there were three types of Cod in the Ovens/Murray system.  There was the Murray Cod and the Trout Cod and another they called the Blue Nose.  Many now call the Trout Cod a Blue Nose, but this wasn't the case back in the late '60s.  Maybe it was a Hybrid.

[Member]

Interesting...even more so considering that no fishing is allowed at Leslie Harrison Dam

That fish (and several like it) were legally collected  as part of a tilapia DNA sampling exercise across SEQ a couple of years ago.

[Member]

Did two Tilapia DNA collections on Leslie Harrison with permission and assistance from SEQ Water staff, a very nice impoundment shame it has no access.
First trip only got half a dozen Tilapia, a few of the hybrids and a couple of Spangled Perch. Quite shocked to see the hybrids.
Second trip was on a hot humid afternoon/evening with the assitance of a couple of vietnamese gents who are expert Tilapia anglers. They slayed them got about 50 in 2 hours up to 52 cm. Got probably 20 hybrids from 8 to 27 cm, sent some to the museum in a range of sizes, they had seen them before, though not a sample set of multiple generations. Asked a lot of people in various govt departments the aquaculture industry and various friends and contacts about the origin of these hybrids.
Mostly only got hints and whispers, seems most likely that the Barred Grunter part of the hybrid is Amniataba percoides sub species Grunterus dilgeri 
 
cheers
Steve

[Member]

  HAHAHAHAHA

Steve shhhhh we'll end up in court again.  That person made all sorts of threats against a few people, solicitors letters & injunctions etc. His legacy shall endure..... 

fitz..