Macquaria
Encyclopedia
The Macquaria genus is a genus of medium-sized, predatory native fish in the Percichthyidae family. The Macquaria genus was created by merging the old genera Plectrotripes and Macquaria (Murray-Darling species) and Percalates (East Coast species) (McDonald, 1978). Thus the Macquaria genus currently holds the two species of native perch from the Murray-Darling Basin
— golden perch
(Macquaria ambigua) and Macquarie perch
(Macquaria australasica) — and the two species of catadromous native perch in East Coast river systems — Australian bass
(Macquaria novemaculeata) and estuary perch
(Macquaria colonorum). Latest research using mitochondrial DNA comparisons suggests that Australian bass and estuary perch may belong in a separate genus, which may thus result in the resurrection of the Percalates genus (Jerry et al., 2001).
Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray-Darling basin is a large geographical area in the interior of southeastern Australia, whose name is derived from its two major rivers, the Murray River and the Darling River. It drains one-seventh of the Australian land mass, and is currently by far the most significant agricultural...
— golden perch
Golden perch
The golden perch, Macquaria ambigua, is an Australian native freshwater fish, primarily of the Murray-Darling river system. It is not a true perch of the genus Perca....
(Macquaria ambigua) and Macquarie perch
Macquarie perch
The Macquarie perch is an Australian native freshwater fish of the Murray-Darling river system. It is a member of the Percichthyidae family and is closely related to the golden perch ....
(Macquaria australasica) — and the two species of catadromous native perch in East Coast river systems — Australian bass
Australian bass
Australian bass are a small to medium sized, primarily freshwater native fish found in coastal rivers and streams along the east coast of Australia. They are a member of the Percichthyidae family and, currently, the Macquaria genus. Australian bass are an iconic, highly predatory native fish...
(Macquaria novemaculeata) and estuary perch
Estuary perch
The estuary perch, Macquaria colonorum, is an Australian species of the Percichthyidae family.It is very similar to and very closely related to its sister species the Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata...
(Macquaria colonorum). Latest research using mitochondrial DNA comparisons suggests that Australian bass and estuary perch may belong in a separate genus, which may thus result in the resurrection of the Percalates genus (Jerry et al., 2001).