ASFB Home > 2003 > Biological Invasions: Consequences for Parasites, Pathogens, Emerging Diseases, and Fisheries in the Marine Environment.

Retropinna in retrospect: the taxonomy of a small Australian freshwater fish

Michael Hammer¹, Peter Unmack², Mark Adams³ and Keith Walker¹

¹ CRC for Freshwater Ecology, School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Adelaide SA 5005
² Biology Department, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287-1501, USA
³ Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, North Terrace Adelaide, SA 5001
Email: michael.hammer@adelaide.edu.au

Two species of smelt (Retropinnidae) are recognised in Australia, namely Retropinna semoni, in lowland and lentic fresh waters throughout the south-eastern mainland, and R. tasmanica, in coastal streams of Tasmania. Despite the wide spread distribution and general commonness of the smelt in Australia, surprisingly little is known of their ecology, especially in relation to dispersal. Molecular data indicate strong differentiation within R. semoni, corresponding to putative biogeographical provinces, and the current description for the species almost certainly represents a complex of multiple taxa. There is likely to be unrecognised genetic ‘structure’ in other Australian fish, particularly small, non-commercial species. This is significant because, as with Retropinna, it leads to special considerations in managing species diversity and protecting evolutionary potential.

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