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Nematalosa erebi, commonly known as the Bony Bream, is a small to medium-sized freshwater fish belonging to the family Clupeidae. It is characterized by its deep, compressed body, silvery coloration, and a distinctive elongated last ray of the dorsal fin. This species is highly adaptable and plays a significant ecological role as a primary consumer and a food source for larger predatory fish and birds in Australian inland waters.
Physical Characteristics
- Body shape
- compressed
- Coloration
- Silvery flanks, darker grey-blue to olive-green dorsally, often with a faint dark spot behind the gill cover. Fins are generally translucent.
- Scale type
- cycloid
- Mouth position
- subterminal
- Distinctive features
- Deep, compressed body, Small, subterminal mouth, Elongated last ray of the dorsal fin, extending posteriorly, sometimes reaching the caudal fin base, Keeled belly with sharp scutes (modified scales)
- Dorsal fin
- Single dorsal fin, centrally located, with 15-19 rays, the last ray greatly elongated and filamentous.
- Tail fin
- Deeply forked caudal fin.
- Pectoral fin
- Small, low-set pectoral fins.
- Distinctive fins
- Pelvic fins are small and located abdominally. Anal fin is relatively short with 18-24 rays.
Identification Tips
Body Shape
Look for a very deep, laterally compressed body, giving it a 'hatchet-like' appearance.
Dorsal Fin
The most distinguishing feature is the last ray of the dorsal fin, which is significantly elongated and filamentous, often reaching or extending past the caudal fin base.
Mouth
Observe the small, subterminal mouth, indicating its filter-feeding habit.
Belly
Feel for the sharp, serrated scutes along the ventral keel, a characteristic of clupeids.
Habitat
- Water type
- freshwater
- Depth
- Typically found in shallow to moderate depths, but can inhabit deeper sections of rivers and impoundments.
- Environment
- Found in a wide range of freshwater habitats including rivers, billabongs, lakes, impoundments, and occasionally in brackish estuaries. Prefers slow-moving or still waters with abundant plankton. Tolerant of turbid conditions and varying water quality.
- Geographic range
- Endemic to Australia, widely distributed throughout the Murray-Darling Basin, coastal drainages of Queensland, Northern Territory, and northern Western Australia.
Aquarium Information
- Care level: expert
- Temperament: peaceful
- Diet: filter_feeder
- Minimum tank size: Not typically kept in aquariums due to specialized feeding and schooling needs.
- Temperature: 18-28°C
- pH level: 6.5-8.0
- Hardness: Moderate to hard (100-300 ppm)
- Compatibility: Not suitable for typical home aquaria. In very large, specialized public aquaria, they would need to be kept in large schools with other peaceful, similarly sized filter feeders.
- Special requirements: Requires very large tanks with strong filtration to handle their filter-feeding habits and maintain water quality. Specialized planktonic food sources are essential. Highly sensitive to water quality fluctuations and stress.
Wild Information
- Conservation status: least concern
- Seasonality: Active year-round, with spawning typically occurring in spring and summer, influenced by rainfall and water temperature.
- Market price: Low to none for human consumption; sometimes used as bait.
- Commercial importance: low
- Taste: Often described as bland or muddy, with numerous small bones.
- Texture: Soft, flaky, but very bony.
- Cooking methods: Smoking, Frying (often whole to crisp bones), Used in fish cakes or as bait
- Nutritional value: Good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, despite culinary challenges.
Key Facts
Filter Feederbehavior
Bony Bream are obligate filter feeders, primarily consuming phytoplankton and zooplankton, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling in their ecosystems.
Ecological Importanceinteresting
Despite their low commercial value for human consumption, Bony Bream are a vital food source for a wide array of native predatory fish (e.g., Murray Cod, Golden Perch), birds (e.g., pelicans, cormorants), and reptiles, forming a critical link in the food web.
Hardy Survivorsamazing
They are remarkably tolerant of poor water quality, including high turbidity, low oxygen levels, and fluctuating temperatures, which allows them to thrive in often harsh Australian inland environments.
Mass Mortalitiesbehavior
Bony Bream are prone to large-scale die-offs during extreme environmental events, such as severe droughts followed by floods, or sudden drops in water temperature, which can then provide a massive food pulse for scavengers and predators.
Safety Information
Safe- Safety level: safe
- Venomous: No
- Edibility: not recommended
- Handling notes: No specific handling precautions are required. They are not venomous and do not possess sharp spines that pose a significant threat. Care should be taken to avoid damaging their delicate scales if handling for release.
Similar Species
Southern Bony Bream
Nematalosa vlaminghi
Nematalosa vlaminghi is primarily marine and estuarine, rarely entering freshwater. It generally has a more slender body and a less elongated last dorsal fin ray compared to N. erebi. Geographic distribution is also a key differentiator.
Australian Sardine
Sardinops sagax
Australian Sardines are marine species. They lack the greatly elongated last dorsal fin ray and the prominent ventral scutes of Bony Bream. Their body shape is typically more fusiform (spindle-shaped).
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Clupeiformes
- Family
- Clupeidae
- Genus
- Nematalosa
- Species
- erebi
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