Fauna Spotters logo

Golden Gudgeon (Hypseleotris aurea)

The golden gudgeon is a small freshwater fish recorded from Western Australian river systems, including rocky pools in the Murchison and Gascoyne Rivers. Its WA Priority 2 status reflects that it is poorly known and known from few locations, so freshwater works in or near suitable waters warrant careful assessment.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 2.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity or breeding months are documented. Use year-round precautions unless a qualified ecologist provides site-specific advice.

Breeding period: Not documented.

Survey detectability by season: Not documented.

No species-specific seasonal information is documented.

  • Precautionary works planning: Planning window only: no seasonal pattern is documented for this species, so assess and manage aquatic habitat risks in any work period.

Identification: Appearance and size

Use confirmed identification where possible, as diagnostic information is limited.

A photograph appears in fish survey records, but diagnostic colours, markings and body features have not been described.

A general reference reports a maximum length of 8 cm. Treat this as indicative rather than a locally verified size.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

Other gudgeons may require comparison during identification. No characters are documented that reliably distinguish the golden gudgeon from similar fishes.

No species-specific tracks, nests or other field signs have been documented. Live fish observations or captures should be identified by a suitably qualified freshwater ecologist.

Distribution: Known range

Records indicate a scattered Western Australian distribution, but do not establish continuous occupancy between locations.

A general reference reports the species from rocky pools in the Murchison and Gascoyne Rivers. Fish surveys also record capture sites in the Pilbara Drainage Division, and Western Australian Museum records are noted.

Atlas of Living Australia records show 18 Western Australian records at 14 distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -28.7 and -22.2 and longitude 113.6 and 118.4. Records outside WA were excluded as likely errors.

Distribution: WA status and region

The DBCA Threatened and Priority Fauna List dated 1 July 2025 assigns the golden gudgeon Priority 2, described as poorly known and known from few locations, with some locations on conservation lands. The WA region flagged on the list is Midwest.

The species has no national listing. The DBCA priority category is not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Habitat: Recorded settings

Habitat records are limited to river settings and rocky pools.

The species is reported from rocky pools in the Murchison and Gascoyne Rivers. Captures are also recorded in the Pilbara Drainage Division.

Habitat: Site assessment

Water depth, flow, water quality, vegetation, substrate beyond rocky pools, and seasonal changes in habitat have not been described. Assess the actual waterbody and adjoining habitat rather than assuming all river reaches are suitable or occupied.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding sites

The golden gudgeon's diet and feeding sites have not been documented.

Do not infer a diet from descriptions of other Hypseleotris species.

Foraging habitat: Precaution near water

As a general precaution for freshwater fish habitat, prevent sediment, pollutants and construction debris from entering pools and connected waters. This is a works-site measure, not a documented species-specific feeding requirement.

Breeding habitat: Available information

The golden gudgeon's breeding biology is poorly known.

The breeding season, spawning substrate, egg information and nursery habitat have not been documented.

Breeding habitat: Works planning

Do not schedule disturbance on the assumption that breeding is restricted to a particular season. Where works could affect a recorded or potentially connected waterbody, seek advice from a freshwater ecologist and apply precautionary controls throughout the work period.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

Specific sheltering behaviour is unknown; rocky pools are recorded as habitat, not as confirmed shelter sites.

Shelter structures, resting sites and refuge behaviour have not been documented for the golden gudgeon.

Sheltering habitat: Retain aquatic features

As a precaution, avoid unnecessary disturbance to pool beds, banks and in-water structure. Do not remove rocks or other habitat features on the assumption they are unimportant.

Threats: Known information

Specific threats to the golden gudgeon have not been identified.

The species is listed as DBCA Priority 2 because it is poorly known and known from few locations. This status does not, by itself, identify a particular threatening process.

Threats: Potential work pathways

As general freshwater precautions, consider whether works could directly disturb aquatic habitat or affect water quality, flow, or connectivity. Treat these as potential project impacts to assess, not as confirmed species-specific threats.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific detectability and survey methods have not been documented. A qualified freshwater ecologist should design surveys.

Review DBCA information, available museum and atlas records, prior surveys, and the location of the proposed works relative to river systems and connected pools. Verify record identity and location where possible.

Survey methodology: 2. Field assessment

Inspect affected waters and connected habitat, documenting water conditions, pool features and any fish observations. A preferred season, survey effort, capture method or probability of detection has not been established for this species.

Any netting, trapping or other capture work should be selected and undertaken by appropriately qualified personnel under applicable approvals. Minimise handling and release fish promptly where capture is authorised.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations: Water-associated habitat mentioned in profile

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

The species is reported from rocky pools in the Murchison and Gascoyne Rivers.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Confirm work footprint

Plan works on the basis that the species may be difficult to detect and its ecology is poorly known.

Map all direct and indirect effects on rivers, pools, banks and connections between waterbodies. Check current DBCA advice and relevant approvals before work begins.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Set controls

Have a freshwater ecologist advise on survey needs, exclusion areas and any authorised fish handling or salvage. Brief the crew on preventing sediment, contaminants and debris from reaching water.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Protect water and habitat

Keep disturbance to aquatic habitat to the minimum required and act promptly if fish are encountered.

Maintain agreed exclusion areas and sediment and spill controls. Avoid unnecessary changes to pool beds, banks or water connections.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to observations

Stop work in the immediate area if a fish suspected to be a golden gudgeon is found. Do not collect or relocate it unless this is authorised and directed by a suitably qualified person; record the observation and notify the project ecologist.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Inspect and report

Confirm that work controls remain effective and record outcomes for future assessments.

Check affected waters and control measures for visible damage, sediment movement or contamination. Record fish observations, work dates, locations and any incidents, and provide the information to the project ecologist.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Escalate issues

If an unexpected impact or possible mortality occurs, stop the relevant activity where safe to do so and follow the project incident and regulatory notification procedures.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore affected areas

Rehabilitation should protect the freshwater setting and avoid creating additional disturbance.

Reinstate disturbed banks and adjacent ground in accordance with the approved rehabilitation plan. Keep loose soil and materials out of water and avoid introducing contaminants or debris.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and adapt

Inspect rehabilitated areas for erosion, sediment entering water, and persistence of agreed control measures. Species-specific rehabilitation targets have not been documented, so seek advice from a freshwater ecologist for site objectives.

Sources