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Prince Regent Hardyhead (Craterocephalus lentiginosus)

The Prince Regent Hardyhead is a small freshwater hardyhead recorded from the Kimberley, including the Upper Roe River and a tributary. Its ecology and field identification are poorly documented, so works near suitable waters should use precautionary survey and avoidance measures. It is listed as Priority 2 on the WA DBCA Threatened and Priority Fauna List, a DBCA priority category rather than a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal guidance

Breeding, movement and activity months have not been documented. The row below is a planning reminder, not a seasonal prediction.

Seasonal evidence: No species-specific seasonal information is recorded.

Do not interpret this planning reminder as evidence that the species is present or active in any particular month.

  • Plan aquatic checks before works: Planning window only. Months of activity, breeding or movement have not been identified.

Identification: Appearance and size

The species is not fully described for field identification.

A reliable description of the species' overall appearance or body size is not available. The taxonomic description distinguishes it from a close relative by lower meristic counts and a lateral process on the premaxilla, features that generally require close examination.

  • Do not identify a fish from colour or size alone using the information available here.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum is identified as the closest relative. Field separation may require specialist examination of diagnostic characters.

  • No distinctive field signs, such as a species-specific schooling pattern or call, are recorded.
  • As general fish survey practice, photograph any suspected individual in the water where feasible and seek confirmation from a fish taxonomist before relying on an identification.

Distribution: Known range

The species is recorded from a restricted part of the Kimberley, and the WA priority list flags the region.

The Prince Regent Hardyhead is reported from the Upper Roe River and one of its tributaries, within Prince Regent National Park. Coordinates for these places are not recorded.

  • Atlas of Living Australia records show 49 Western Australian records across 15 distinct 0.1 degree locations, with latitude -18.2 to -14.3 and longitude 123.6 to 127.6. These are record extents, not confirmed occupied-site boundaries.

Distribution: WA region and status

The DBCA list flags the Kimberley region and gives the species WA Priority 2 status, described as poorly known and known from few locations, some on conservation lands. No national listing is recorded.

Habitat: Reported waters

Habitat information is limited to a brief account of aquatic settings in the Upper Roe River area.

The species is reported from brackish pools and flowing or turbid waters in the Upper Roe River and a tributary.

  • Water depth, flow regime, vegetation, substrate, water quality and seasonal habitat changes have not been documented.

Habitat: Site assessment

Treat pools, river channels and connected waters in the reported range as potentially relevant habitat until surveys and specialist advice indicate otherwise.

  • Record waterbody type, flow, turbidity, salinity if measured, and connections to nearby waters as site observations, not as established preferences of this species.

Foraging habitat: Diet information

The species is described as an omnivore, but its foods and feeding locations are not documented.

The Prince Regent Hardyhead is an omnivore. No prey list, food proportions or feeding behaviour have been documented.

Foraging habitat: Precaution around feeding areas

Distinct foraging habitat has not been documented. Avoid assuming that only particular pool margins or channel sections are used for feeding.

  • During works planning, assess the full aquatic area that could be affected, including connected pools and channels.

Breeding habitat: Known information

Breeding habitat and timing have not been documented.

Information on spawning sites, breeding season, eggs and young is not available.

Breeding habitat: Planning precaution

Do not assume that a pool or channel is unused for breeding because no breeding activity is observed during a single visit.

  • Seek advice from a qualified fish ecologist before disturbing aquatic habitat in the known range.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

Sheltering and resting habitat have not been documented.

Species-specific sheltering structures, refuge sites and hiding behaviour are not recorded.

Sheltering habitat: Site precautions

As a general precaution for fish, avoid treating unobserved parts of a waterbody as unoccupied refuge habitat.

  • Include pools and connected water areas in pre-work checks, rather than limiting checks to locations where fish are immediately visible.

Threats: Evidence limits

Specific threats to this species have not been documented.

The effects of development, altered flows, pollution and habitat disturbance have not been quantified for this species.

Threats: Works-related caution

Because the species is known from few locations and is poorly known, avoid unnecessary disturbance to potentially suitable aquatic habitat in the reported range.

  • Manage sediment, contaminants and changes to water flow as general aquatic-habitat precautions, not as confirmed species-specific threat pathways.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

No species-specific survey method or detectability information is documented. A qualified fish ecologist should select methods suited to the waterbody and required approvals.

Check the project location against the reported Upper Roe River area, the Kimberley region and current DBCA records. Confirm whether planned works could affect pools, channels or waters connected to them.

  • Treat database records as evidence of occurrence, not as a complete distribution map.

Survey methodology: 2. Field checks

As general fish-survey practice, inspect aquatic habitat and use appropriately authorised, low-impact observation or sampling methods selected by a fish ecologist. A non-detection does not prove absence.

  • Record survey conditions and method, including water clarity and flow, so detection limits are clear.
  • Have suspected records checked by a fish taxonomist where identification is uncertain.

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 brackish pools and flowing or turbid waters in the Upper Roe River and a tributary.

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. Define the work area

Plan works to avoid aquatic habitat where practicable and resolve uncertainty before disturbance begins.

Map pools, channels and connected waters that could be affected by clearing, access, drainage or other works. Compare the project area with the reported range and current records.

  • Keep disturbance boundaries and no-go areas clear to crews.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Confirm controls

Arrange suitable pre-work checks and specialist advice where potentially relevant habitat may be affected. Confirm applicable approvals and fauna-handling requirements before any capture or relocation.

  • Brief crews on the species' Priority 2 status and the limits of current knowledge.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Protect water

Use precautionary controls to minimise effects on aquatic habitat and respond promptly to suspected fish observations.

Keep works within approved boundaries and apply site controls to limit sediment, contaminants and unintended changes to water flow.

  • Avoid unnecessary entry into pools or channels.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to observations

If a suspected Prince Regent Hardyhead is seen or captured, pause the relevant activity where safe to do so and contact the project ecologist.

  • Do not handle or relocate fish unless the required authority, method and suitably qualified personnel are in place.
  • Record the observation location and conditions, and obtain photographs where feasible.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Inspect and record

Check that aquatic protections remain effective and document outcomes after works.

Inspect affected water areas for unintended sediment, contamination, flow changes or damage to aquatic habitat, and record any corrective action.

  • Document fauna observations, survey limitations and any incidents for the project record.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Escalate concerns

Refer suspected records, fish injury or unexpected habitat impacts to the project ecologist and relevant authorities in accordance with project requirements.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore affected areas

No species-specific rehabilitation requirements are documented. Focus rehabilitation on restoring affected aquatic habitat and avoiding further impacts.

Reinstate disturbed areas in line with approved plans, with attention to preventing erosion and sediment entering pools or channels.

  • Do not introduce fish, plants or other materials as a species-specific measure without ecological advice and any required approvals.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor outcomes

Check rehabilitated areas for stability and unintended changes to water flow or water quality. Agree monitoring requirements with the project ecologist and relevant authorities.

Sources