Bloomfield River cod

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Bloomfield River Cod

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percichthyidae
Genus: Guyu
Species: G. wujalwujalensis
Binomial name
Guyu wujalwujalensis
Pusey & Kennard, 2001

The Bloomfield River cod (Guyu wujalwujalensis) is a very small fish in the Guyu genus and the Percichthyidae family that is only found in an 11 kilometre stretch of the Bloomfield River (between two large waterfalls) in North Queensland, Australia. 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 pre-historical times. With its very limited distribution, the Bloomfield River Cod is clearly a relic 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.

While named after the Australian freshwater cod species that are the most famous members of the Percichthyidae family (eg Murray cod), the Bloomfield River cod have 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.

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