Source: In-Stream 10(4), August 2001, page 12. Authors: Rob Wager & Peter J. Unmack, 2001 edition, ISBN 0 7345 01242, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, 88pp, about $25. Reviewer: Bruce Hansen. View original scan (PDF)

This volume is an illustrated field guide to the desert fishes of central Australia and was prepared for the Lake Eyre Zonal Committee and published by the Queensland Fisheries Service (part of the DPI) with the assistance of the Natural Heritage Trust.

The first 23 pages contain brief introductory remarks about the region, the Great Artesian Basin, the aquatic habitats and the flora & fauna of the region. Pages 26 to 66 carry the fish descriptions – both native and introduced. Most species rate a page, which includes information on description, habitat, biology and distribution as well as a colour photograph. Some get more coverage e.g. the Red-finned Blue-eye, others less. Unfortunately illustrations are not provided for some species, presumably because of the difficulties of getting fish and photographers together from such a distant region. As an offset to this, some species are seen illustrated for the first time that I am aware of.

The final section of some 21 pages covers management issues, references and an index. I liked the layout feature of marginal coloured tabs to facilitate “navigation” but in this instance it needed a little more fine-tuning. Overall the book serves it’s function well, is easy to read and is a useful addition to the bookshelf of those interested in native fishes.

Mostly small full colour photographs of fishes and habitats supplemented by a few maps and drawings in B&W. In general the small size of the illustrations is adequate for the identification of the fishes but the habitat photos, which are even smaller, tend to lose their effectiveness.