Nannoperca obscura occurs in the coastal drainages of southeastern Australia, preferring streams and lakes with plentiful vegetation and flowing water.

However, the 2008 millennium drought caused local extinction in the Murray-Darling basin, with only a few individuals kept in private dams.

Yarra pygmy perch are olive-green above, greenish-brown on the sides, and yellowish-white below, with chevron-shaped markings on rear half of the body.

[3] The Yarra pygmy perch was classed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List in 2019.

The conservation project was undertaken by scientist at Adelaide and Flinders universities as well as the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, with assistance from community and school student volunteers.