Jungle perch
Species card
Jungle perch
PREDATOR
Name and family
Scientific name Kuhlia rupestris
It belongs to the flagtails (family Kuhliidae), not to the true perches. Many English guides call it the jungle perch for the rainforest streams where it lives.
What makes it special
Not a true perch: it is a flagtail. It lives in clear rainforest streams, and one of the channel's Italian titles calls it "the trout of the tropics".
Where it lives
Fast, clear freshwater streams in the rainforests of north-eastern Australia, and some Pacific islands.
Its life cycle moves between rivers and the sea, so dams, weirs and barriers across a creek can block it from its upstream habitat. This is one reason why fish like this need careful handling and clean water.
What it eats
Insects, small fish and crustaceans.
Before you fish
Local rules for this species can be strict and are not the same everywhere. Always check the current regulations of the state before fishing for it.
Fishing rules change by country, state and season. Check them before you fish.
On the channel
Francesco looked for the jungle perch in several episodes of the Australia series, among them two "jungle perch mission" videos.
What worked for us
WHAT_WORKED_DA_COMPLETARE
