Bloomfield River cod

Bloomfield River cod
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Percichthyidae
Genus:	Guyu Pusey & M. J. Kennard, 2001
Species:	G. wujalwujalensis
Binomial name
Guyu wujalwujalensis Pusey & M. J. Kennard, 2001

Guyu wujalwujalensis, the tropical nightfish or Bloomfield River cod, is a species of temperate perch endemic to Australia.^[1] It is only found in an 11-km stretch of the Bloomfield River (between two large waterfalls) in northern Queensland. These waterfalls appear to have blocked the migration of more aggressive tropical freshwater fish species such as the sooty grunter (Hephaestus fuliginosus) that have presumably naturally displaced the Bloomfield River cod from its former range in prehistoric times. With its very limited distribution, the Bloomfield River cod is clearly a relict species. It is a very important relict species, however, as it is the most northerly distributed percichthyid species in Australia, and raises interesting questions on the biogeography of percichthyid fish in Australia and the history of their ancient colonisation of Australian rivers.

The species name wujalwujalensis comes from the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal community on the Bloomfield River, and the genus name Guyu comes from the tribe's name for this fish. Bloomfield River cod are the only species in the Guyu genus.

Though named after the Australian freshwater cod species that are the most famous members of the Percichthyidae family (e.g. Murray cod), the Bloomfield River cod has little resemblance to the cod species. In fact, it is very similar in shape and appearance to a juvenile golden perch in a gold/light bronze colouration. It can reach a length of 10.1 centimetres (4.0 in) SL.^[1]

References