Introduction

The subdivision Osteoglossomorpha contains a single order, Osteoglossiformes, of living fishes and the fossil order Ichthyodectiformes (Nelson 1994).

General References

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

History of changes

Introduction

Nelson (1994) recognised six families, but subsequently (2006) included four families in Osteoglossiformes. Species are found in tropical fresh waters from South East Asia to Australia, and Africa and South America (Nelson 2006). Members from one family are found in Australia. Relationships are discussed in Lauder & Liem (1983) and Li & Wilson (1996). Several fossil groups are known.

General References

Lauder, G.V. & Liem, K.F. 1983. The evolution and interrelationships of the actinopterygian fishes. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 150: 95-197

Li, G.-Q. & Wilson, M.V.H. 1996. Phylogeny of Osteoglossomorpha. pp. 163-174 in Stiassny, M.L.J., Parenti, L.R. & Johnson, G.D. (eds). Interrelationships of Fishes. San Diego : Academic Press 496 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

History of changes

Introduction

The Osteoglossidae comprise 10 species belonging to four genera (Pouyaud et al. 2003). Some workers, however, place Heterotis and Arapima in a separate family, the Arapimidae. Recently, Nelson (2006) reported eight species in five genera for the family and assigned Pantodon, previously in its own family, to Osteoglossidae. In Australia, one genus and two species are present in the north.

Bony tongues are distributed in tropical fresh waters of Australia, South East Asia, Africa and South America. They inhabit freshwater tributaries and larger rivers. They feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects, small fishes and crustaceans. The female incubates her brood of 50–200 young in the oral cavity. The maximum size is about 80 cm.

Nelson (1994, 2006) summarised knowledge on relationships of and within the group. The Australian species are discussed and illustrated by Allen & Boeseman (1982) and Allen et al. (2002).

General References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Boeseman, M. 1982. A collection of freshwater fishes from western New Guinea with descriptions of two new species (Gobiidae and Eleotridae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 10(2): 67-103 figs 1-7

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Pouyaud, L., Sudarto [no initial] & Teugels, G.G. 2003. The different colour varieties of the asian arowana Scleropages formosus (Osteoglossidae) are distinct species: morphologic and genetic evidences. Cybium 27(4): 287-305

Common Name References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. [56] (Bony Tongues)

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs. [70] (Bony-tongued Fishes)

History of changes

• Scleropages Günther, A. 1864. On a new generic type of fishes discovered by the late Dr. Leichardt in Queensland. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3 14(21): 195-197 pl. 7 [196].

  Type species:

   Scleropages leichhardti Günther, 1864 (photograph referred to as "evidently is the type of a new and remarkable genus", also monotypic) by original designation.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

West Pacific.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal

General References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp.

Lake, J.S. 1978. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Melbourne : Thomas Nelson 160 pp. 140 figs.

Larson, H.K. & Martin, K.C. 1990. Freshwater Fishes of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences Handbook Series Number 1. Darwin : Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences 102 pp. 73 figs.

Leggett, R. & Merrick, J.R. 1987. Australian Native Fishes for Aquariums. Artarmon : J.R. Merrick Publications 241 pp. 142 figs.

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs.

History of changes

• Osteoglossum jardinii Saville-Kent, W. 1892. Description of a new species of true barrimundi, Osteoglossum jardinii, from north Queensland. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 8: 105-108 [105].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1911.4.1.33-45, uncatalogued (missing), Wenlock River, QLD (as Batavia River) and Gregory River, Cape York, Gulf of Carpenteria; QM (missing), Wenlock River, QLD (as Batavia River) and Gregory River, Cape York, Gulf of Carpenteria.

Generic Combinations

• Scleropages jardinii (Saville-Kent, 1892). —
  Lake, J.S. 1971. Freshwater Fishes and Rivers of Australia. Melbourne : Nelson 61 pp. [25]
• Scleropages leichardti jardinii (Saville-Kent, 1892). —
  Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [34]

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Scleropages leichardti leichardti Günther, 1864 [misidentification in part, considered S. jardinii as a junior synonym]. —
  Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [28]
• Scleropages leichardti Günther, 1864 [misidentification, in part]. —
  McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [36] (regarded Scleropages jardinii as a junior synonym)

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Known in Australia only from following systems: East Alligator, NT (132º43´E), Goyder, NT (135º04´E), Roper, NT (134º04´E), Gregory, QLD (130º10´E), Cattle Creek, QLD (141º38´E), Mitchell, QLD (141º40´E), Archer, QLD (142º09´E), Wenlock, QLD (142º05´E) and Jardine, QLD (142º22´E); tropical, New Guinea.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Pine Creek (PCK), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf

Ecological Descriptors

Freshwater.

General References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. [57]

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp. [789]

Lake, J.S. 1978. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Melbourne : Thomas Nelson 160 pp. 140 figs.

Larson, H.K. & Martin, K.C. 1990. Freshwater Fishes of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences Handbook Series Number 1. Darwin : Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences 102 pp. 73 figs. [3]

Leggett, R. & Merrick, J.R. 1987. Australian Native Fishes for Aquariums. Artarmon : J.R. Merrick Publications 241 pp. 142 figs. [88]

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs. [75]

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [28] (198, as S. leichardti leichardti)

Pusey, B.J., Kennard, M.J. & Bird, J. 2000. Fishes of the dune fields of Cape Flattery, northern Queensland and other dune systems in north-eastern Australia. Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwater 11(1): 65-74 [72]

Unmack, P.J. 2001. Biogeography of Australian freshwater fishes. Journal of Biogeography 28: 1053-1089 [1060]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [34] (174)

Common Name References

Grant, E.M. 1975. Guide to Fishes. Brisbane : Queensland Government, Co-ordinator General’s Department 640 pp. [533] (Gulf Barramundi, Saratoga)

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs. [75] (Gulf Saratoga, Northern Spotted Barramundi)

Prokop, F. 2002. Australian Fish Guide. Croydon South, Victoria : Australian Fishing Network 256 pp. [24] (Bony Tongue)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd pp. 880. [789]) (Northern Saratoga)

Whitley, G.P. 1941. Burramundi. Australian Museum Magazine 7(8): 264-268 [265] (Gulf Of Carpentaria Burramundi)

History of changes

• Scleropages leichardti Günther, A. 1864. On a new generic type of fishes discovered by the late Dr. Leichardt in Queensland. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3 14(21): 195-197 pl. 7 [196, pl. 7] [as S. leichardti in text and on plate and probably correct, but see Berra, T.M. 1989. Scleropages leichardti Günther (Osteoglossiformes): the case of the missing h. Bulletin of the Australian Society for Limnology 12: 15-19].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1846.8.27.4 (the species is not native to the Burdekin River), stated as Burdekin River, QLD, but thought to be Fitzroy River.

  Type locality references:

  Pusey, B.J., Kennard, M.J. & Arthington, A.H. 2004. Freshwater Fishes of North-eastern Australia. Collingwood, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 684 pp. [61].
• Osteoglossum guentheri Castelnau, F.L. de 1876. Mémoire sur les poissons appelés barramundi par les Aborigènes du nord-est de l'Australie. Journal de Zoologie (Gervais) 5: 129-136 [131].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHP A.9210, Burdekin River, QLD.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Allen, G.R. & Boeseman, M. 1982. A collection of freshwater fishes from western New Guinea with descriptions of two new species (Gobiidae and Eleotridae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 10(2): 67-103 figs 1-7 [72]

Generic Combinations

• Scleropages guentheri (Castelnau, 1876). —
  McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [36]
• Scleropages leichardti guentheri (Castelnau, 1876). —
  Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [28]
• Osteoglossum leichardti (Günther, 1864). —
  Günther, A. 1868. Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Physostomi, containing the families Heteropygii, Cyprinidae, Gonorhynchidae, Hyodontidae, Osteoglossidae, Clupeidae, [thru] Halosauridae, in the collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum Vol. 7 512 pp. [378]

Introduction

The species was originally described as leichardti and undoubtedly named after the explorer Leichhardt. Berra (1898) argued that the original spelling should be emended to leichhardti and some followed that suggestion (Paxton et al. 1989; Allen et al. 2006). However, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature states that a misspelling must be apparent from the original description. It is clear from information not included in the publication that the fish was collected by Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt. However, Günther indicated that the fish was collected by Dr Leichardt and used that spelling five times in the paper and used the same spelling subsequently (Günther 1868). A search of fish literature indicates that the spelling leichardti is far more common than leichhardti and consequently the subsequent spelling of leichhardti does not qualify to become the correct spelling under Article 33.3.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (2000).

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Fitzroy River system, QLD (23º30´S), but has been transferred to other rivers of east QLD, including the Burdekin and as far south as the Mary River (25º40´S); tropical

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt South (BBS), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: NE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Freshwater.

General References

Allen, G.R., Cross, N.J. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Family Osteoglossidae. pp. 217-218 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [217] (as Scleropages leichhardti)

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. [58]

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp. [789]

Lake, J.S. 1978. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Melbourne : Thomas Nelson 160 pp. 140 figs.

Leggett, R. & Merrick, J.R. 1987. Australian Native Fishes for Aquariums. Artarmon : J.R. Merrick Publications 241 pp. 142 figs. [86]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [36] (as Scleropages leichardti, in part but regarded S. jardini as a synonym and Scleropages guentheri)

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs. [70]

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [28] (197, as Scleropages leichardti guntheri)

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. & Hanley, J.E. (eds) 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 7 665 pp. (as Scleropages leichhardti)

Pusey, B.J., Kennard, M.J. & Arthington, A.H. 2004. Freshwater Fishes of North-eastern Australia. Collingwood, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 684 pp. [60]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [34] (173, as Scleropages leichhardti)

Common Name References

Grant, E.M. 1975. Guide to Fishes. Brisbane : Queensland Government, Co-ordinator General’s Department 640 pp. [533] (Barramundi, Dawson River Salmon)

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs. [70] (Saratoga, Spotted Barramundi)

Prokop, F. 2002. Australian Fish Guide. Croydon South, Victoria : Australian Fishing Network 256 pp. [26] (Spotted Saratoga)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd pp. 880. [789]) (Southern Saratoga)

Whitley, G.P. 1941. Burramundi. Australian Museum Magazine 7(8): 264-268 [264] (original aboriginal pronunciation) (Burramundi)

History of changes