Murray River in Hattah National Park. Photo credit: MDBA

Fishes of the
Murray-Darling Basin

Mark Lintermans takes us on a journey into the world of freshwater Australian fish of the Murray-Darling Basin

Take a dip into the world of freshwater fish

Explore the 63 species of freshwater fish in the Murray-Darling Basin in this companion site to Mark Lintermans' book, Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin, the only book devoted exclusively to the fishes of Australia's largest river system. The book, and this site, contain information on the identification, habitats, biology and distribution of the Basin's fishes, as well as background information on the threats to fish and aquatic ecosystems.

In this invaluable guide for naturalists, students, fishers, scientists and anyone else interested in life within our rivers, learn about the iconic Murray cod (Australia’s largest freshwater fish), and the smaller species such as galaxias, gudgeons, hardyheads and pygmy perch that inhabit the Basin’s waterways.

Meet some of the Basin's native and alien fish species

Golden perch

ALIEN

NATIVE

Macquaria ambigua ambigua

Murray-Darling rainbowfish

ALIEN

NATIVE

Melanotaenia fluviatilis

Southern purple-spotted gudgeon

Maccullochella peelii

Learn about the Murray-Darling Basin

The Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) covers more than a million square kilometres, equivalent to 14 per cent of Australia’s total area. It is the 20th largest river catchment in the world (about the size of France and Spain joined together) and one of the driest.

The Murray–Darling Basin is home to 51 native freshwater fish species and 13 alien fish species. Twenty-four of the 51 native species in the Basin are recognised as rare or threatened on State, Territory, National or International listings.

Topographic map of the rivers that form the Murray–Darling Basin

Front book cover of Fishes of the Murray–Darling Basin

Become a Native Fish Expert:
Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin

The second edition of Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin by Mark Lintermans is available now! This edition has been fully revised, incorporating new ecological knowledge on each species and additional species accounts.

Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin remains the only book of its kind, devoted exclusively to the fishes of Australia’s largest river system, containing rigorous information on the identification, habitats, biology and distribution of the freshwater fish of the Murray-Darling Basin, as well as background information on the threats to fish and aquatic ecosystems. It is an invaluable resource for naturalists, students, fishers, scientists and anyone else interested in the life within our rivers.

Buy the book

We Acknowledge and Respect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional and Continuing Custodians of these lands, seas and skies.

We recognise and honour the traditional and continuing custodians of the Country on which we work, learn and live. We respect and learn from Elders past, present and emerging, valuing their knowledge, insights and connections to the waterways we love and care for.