Description of a freshwater eeltail catfish (Teleostei: Plotosidae) from sandstone habitat in the eastern Kimberley, Western Australia

The Kimberley region of north-western Australia is an exceptional region for endemic freshwater fishes. During a survey program in partnership with local land and sea rangers in the eastern Kimberley in 2014, an unusual morphotype of an eeltail catfish (Plotosidae) was recorded, featuring a moderately extended caudodorsal fin, small first dorsal fin, hard sharp fin spines and depressed head, collectively representing a unique combination of characters.

Nuclear and mitochondrial genetic assessments confirmed the presence of a distinct candidate species. Combined lines of evidence are used to describe Neosilurus manjandi sp. nov. The recorded habitat consists of sandstone upland streams and gorges in the Pentecost and Drysdale river catchments.

Preliminary genetic data for Kimberley freshwater plotosids reveal the presence of several other cryptic lineages that warrant further genetic and taxonomic assessments. Maintaining refuge pools is a likely key conservation consideration for the new species in the face of any future catchment modification and climate change.