Fauna Spotters logo

Kimberley Spangled Perch (Leiopotherapon macrolepis)

The Kimberley Spangled Perch is a small freshwater grunter recorded from the Prince Regent River and Upper Roe River systems in the Kimberley, where it inhabits clear streams and rocky pools. Its DBCA Priority 2 status reflects that it is poorly known and recorded from few locations, so works near suitable waterways warrant careful assessment and precautionary controls.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal guidance

Spawning is reported year round. Seasonal information on activity, movement and detectability is unknown.

Spawning: Reported year round; females are likely to deposit demersal eggs on rocky bottoms.

Month values represent the year-round period reported; no narrower breeding season is known.

  • Spawning: Reported year round. Continue to treat rocky stream and pool bottoms as potentially relevant breeding habitat throughout the year.

Identification: Appearance and size

Identify this fish using a combination of body form, scale size, colour and location. Diagnostic characters separating it from similar species have not been documented.

The body is moderately deep, oval and strongly compressed from side to side. The species has relatively large, finely ctenoid scales and a continuous lateral line.

Adults are darker than juveniles. Adults are dark dorsally and lack distinct body patterning; juveniles have darker edging to the scales. The dorsal, anal, pectoral and caudal fins are dusky, particularly in larger fish.

  • Maximum reported size is 15 cm standard length; commonly 9 to 10 cm.

Identification: Similar species

Characters for distinguishing this species from other grunters have not been documented. Where identification is uncertain, document the fish and seek confirmation from a qualified fish identifier.

Identification: Field signs

No distinctive field signs beyond the fish itself are known. Do not treat an absence of sightings as evidence that a suitable stream or pool is unoccupied.

Distribution: Known range

The reported range is restricted to freshwater systems in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The species is recorded from the Prince Regent River and Upper Roe River systems. The type locality is Youwanjela Creek, a tributary of the Prince Regent River.

Atlas of Living Australia records show 63 Western Australian records at nine distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -15.9 and -15.3 and longitude 125 and 125.8. These records do not identify additional named sites.

Distribution: WA listing

The DBCA Threatened and Priority Fauna List dated 1 July 2025 lists the species as Priority 2 in the Kimberley region. This category applies to fauna that are poorly known and known from few locations, with some locations on conservation lands. Priority 2 is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is reported.

Habitat: Recorded habitat

The species is associated with clear freshwater streams and open rocky pools in its known Kimberley range.

Recorded habitat includes clear flowing freshwater streams with sandstone bottoms and open rocky pools with little aquatic vegetation.

Habitat: Habitat checks

During site assessment, note whether streams are clear and flowing and whether sandstone-bottomed reaches or open rocky pools are present. Record aquatic vegetation and the condition of the stream and pools without assuming that every suitable-looking site is occupied.

Foraging habitat: Recorded diet

The species is described as an omnivore, but specific feeding sites and foraging behaviour have not been documented.

It feeds mainly on small crustaceans, small fishes, insects and vegetation.

Foraging habitat: Site interpretation

Where within streams or pools the species forages is unknown. Do not infer a preferred feeding microhabitat from the diet alone.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Spawning is reported throughout the year, and rocky bottoms are a likely egg-deposition surface.

Spawning occurs year round. Females are likely to deposit demersal eggs on the rocky bottom.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Because spawning is reported year round, do not assume there is a season when rocky stream and pool bottoms are free of breeding risk. Egg numbers, development time and other breeding-site details are unknown.

Sheltering habitat: What is known

Specific sheltering sites and refuge behaviour are unknown.

The species is recorded from open rocky pools and clear streams, but particular shelters, resting places and refuge structures have not been documented.

Sheltering habitat: Precaution

Avoid assuming that visible open water is the only habitat of interest. Where works affect a stream, assess the connected reach and rocky pool habitat rather than relying on a single observation point.

Threats: Evidence limits

Specific threats to this species have not been identified. Its limited known range and Priority 2 status support a cautious approach to works near recorded or suitable waterways.

No species-specific threats have been identified. Avoid presenting particular development impacts as documented threats to this fish.

Threats: Works-related precaution

As general freshwater-fauna precautions, manage works to avoid unnecessary disturbance to stream flow, water clarity, rocky bottoms and pools. Identify potential pathways for sediment, contaminants or other pollutants to enter waterways and apply appropriate controls.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey methods and the species’ detectability are unknown. Use appropriately authorised freshwater-fish survey practice and treat non-detection cautiously.

Check the proposed works area against the known Prince Regent River and Upper Roe River systems, the named type locality and current records. The Atlas of Living Australia summary gives a broad coordinate envelope but does not identify individual named record sites.

Map clear streams, sandstone-bottomed reaches and open rocky pools that could be relevant habitat. Confirm access, permissions and any applicable survey requirements before fieldwork.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

Inspect the waterway and connected pools, recording water clarity, flow, substrate, pool form and aquatic vegetation. Photograph habitat and any fish observed, and record survey effort and conditions.

As general fish-survey practice, use suitable methods and equipment selected by a qualified freshwater-fish ecologist for the waterway and required permits. Minimise handling and promptly return captured fish to the capture location where permitted.

Survey methodology: 3. Interpreting results

Seasonal detectability and the survey effort needed for reliable detection are unknown. Record a non-detection as such rather than concluding that the species is absent.

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.

Recorded habitat includes clear flowing freshwater streams with sandstone bottoms and open rocky pools with little aquatic vegetation.

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 the work area

Plan works around the waterway and its connected rocky pools, using survey findings and the species’ poorly known status to guide precaution.

Review records, map watercourses and pools, and arrange for a suitably qualified ecologist to assess relevant habitat before disturbance. Confirm whether works are within or connected to a known river system.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Set controls

Clearly mark approved work areas and no-go areas around waterways and pools. Plan access, storage and drainage to prevent avoidable disturbance and discharge into aquatic habitat.

Brief clearing crews on the location of waterway controls, stop-work triggers and the process for contacting the fauna spotter catcher or ecologist.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work to limits

Keep disturbance controlled and maintain protection of streams and pools throughout works.

Keep machinery and clearing within approved boundaries. Avoid unnecessary entry into channels, rocky pools or stream margins, and maintain the agreed controls against material entering the water.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to observations

If a fish is found or captured, pause nearby work where safe, avoid unnecessary handling and contact the qualified ecologist for identification and direction. Record the location and circumstances.

If waterway controls fail or habitat is unexpectedly affected, stop the relevant activity where safe, contain the issue and notify the site environmental lead.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Inspect and record

Check that work has not left avoidable impacts on aquatic habitat, and document observations and control performance.

Inspect affected and adjacent waterway areas for visible damage, deposited material or changes associated with the works. Record the inspection, any fish observations and corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Follow up

Repair failed controls and address any continuing pathway for sediment or contaminants to reach streams or pools. Refer unexpected habitat impacts or fish records to the project ecologist and relevant environmental personnel.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore affected areas

Rehabilitation should protect the freshwater features associated with the species and avoid creating further disturbance.

Use a site-specific rehabilitation plan to stabilise disturbed ground and reduce the risk of sediment or contaminants entering streams and pools. Avoid unnecessary alteration of stream flow, rocky bottoms or pool form.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor outcomes

Inspect rehabilitated areas after implementation and address erosion, unstable surfaces or failed waterway controls. Species-specific rehabilitation techniques and success criteria are unknown.

Sources