Atherinidae

Dalhousie hardyhead

Craterocephalus dalhousiensis

Feeding detritus in warm spring

• Tropical
• Transcontinental
• Freshwater fish
• Oceania
• Small
• Tropical fish

The Dalhousie hardyhead (Craterocephalus dalhousiensis) is a species of silverside in the family Atherinidae. It is endemic to the warm waters of Dalhousie Springs in the Lake Eyre basin, Australia, along with the similar Craterocephalus gloveri. It inhabits shady areas in tropical freshwater streams at 20-39 °C, but has been recorded at 41.8 °C. Its food consists of gastropods, aquatic plants, green filamentous algae, detritus and small invertebrates; food is mainly taken from the substrate.