Extirpation: Local Extinction

How you can protect native wildlife from your pet cat Here are just some of the ways you can prevent your pet cat from preying on native wildlife.

Are you ready Canberra?

Join us tonight for Extirpation: Local Extinction!

Introducing the Two-spined Blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus)!

This species is found only in the Murray Darling Basin, ranging from north-east Victoria through to the ACT and southeast NSW. The Two-spined Blackfish is listed as vulnerable in the ACT and can only be found in the Cotter catchment.

Previously the species could also be found in other catchments in the ACT including the Murrumbidgee and Paddys rivers, and possibly the Naas/Gudgenby system. The species is threatened by overfishing, habitat alteration and introduced fish species.

The Two-spined Blackfish is a small to medium sized fish ranging in length from ~200mm up to ~350mm. They range in weight from ~50g up to ~200g. The species has yellowish-brown to olive green colouring with blotchy brown spots on the back and sides with a creamy or light grey underside. The dorsal fin is long, almost reaching the tail and has 1 to 3, usually 2, spines. The species has very small scales on its body and is covered with a thick mucus coating.

The Two-spined Black fish spawn (reproduce) in spring to early summer when the water temperature reaches ~16C. Females lay between 20 and 500 large eggs with each egg 3-5mm in diameter. The eggs are deposited onto the bottom surfaces of rocks and are guarded by the male fish until they hatch.

Photograph Copyright Tarmo Raadik.
http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3876

Sources:https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/archived/mdbc-NFS-reports/2203_factsheet_native_two-spined_blackfish.pdf
http://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/617814/two-spined_blackfish.pdf

Our eighth artist profile is Shelley Richardson (ShelleyLee Art)! You can read about her below:

Shelley is a self-taught, pen and ink illustrator from Gundaroo, NSW. She has been creating art in various forms as gifts for friends and relatives throughout her life, however, it was not until 2014, after having an accident, did she focus on achieving her long-held dream of creating art on a full-time and semi-professional basis.

Shelley has a passion for creating quirky illustrations that make people smile. She is driven by a love of Australian wildlife and the bush. Shelley hopes to portray through her intricate pen and ink illustrations the individual characteristics of the animal, highlighting their beauty and in some instances their struggle for survival.

Featuring the vulnerable and endangered, Shelley only suggests the animal’s habitat through fine line work. This is the way in which she hopes to draw attention to the fading and disappearing habitats of our Australian animals, habitats critical to their survival.

Shelley is an exhibiting member of the Wildlife and Botanical Artists (WABA) and the Art Society of Canberra.

She has been awarded:
• Best in Show – ‘Blossom Nap’ – Australian Pygmy Possum, The Art of Nature Exhibition 2014
• People’s Choice Award – ‘Dragon Refuge’ – Grassland Earless Dragon, ACTEWAGL Catchment Art Awards in 2015.

We’re excited to see Shelley’s artwork at Extirpation: Local Extinction!

Website: https://www.shelleyrichardson.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelleeart/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shelleyrichardson5202/

Australian Wildlife Art | Gundaroo | Shelley Richardson Shelley is a self-taught, pen and ink illustrator with a studio in Gundaroo, NSW.