Galaxiid
Encyclopedia
The Galaxiidae, also known by the anglicised name as galaxiids, are a family of mostly small freshwater fish
in the southern hemisphere
. The majority of species live in Australia
or New Zealand
, some are also found in South Africa
, South America
, Lord Howe Island
, New Caledonia
and the Falkland Islands
. One of the galaxiid species, the common galaxias
(Galaxias maculatus), is probably the most widely naturally distributed freshwater fish in the world. They are cool water species, found in temperate
latitude
s, with only one species known from sub-tropical habitat. Many specialise in living in cold, high altitude upland
rivers, streams and lakes.
Some galaxiids live in freshwater all their lives but many have a partially marine life cycle. In these cases, larva
e are hatched in a river but are washed downstream to the ocean, later returning to rivers as juveniles to complete their development to full adulthood. This pattern differs from that of salmon
, which only return to freshwater to breed, and is described as amphidromous
.
Freshwater galaxiid species are gravely threatened by exotic salmonid species, particularly trout
species, which prey upon galaxiids and compete with them for food. Exotic salmonids have been recklessly introduced to many different landmasses (e.g. Australia, New Zealand), with no thought as to impacts on native fish, or attempts to preserve salmonid-free habitats for them. Numerous localised extinctions of galaxiid species have been caused by the introduction of exotic salmonids and a number of freshwater galaxiid species are threatened with overall extinction by exotic salmonids.
South East Australian mainland
Threatened species are:
Western Australia
Tasmania
Fifteen species of galaxiids have been found in Tasmania. The most common species are:
While endangered species are:
while moving upstream and are much valued as a delicacy. Adult galaxiids may be caught for food but they are generally not large. In some cases their exploitation may be banned (i.e. New Zealand) unless available to indigenous
tribes.
In addition to serious impacts from exotic trout species, Australian adult galaxiids suffer a disregard from anglers for being "too small" and "not being trout". This is despite the fact that several Australian galaxiid species, though smallish, grow to a sufficient size to be catchable and readily take wet and dry flies, and that one of these species — the spotted galaxias
— was keenly fished for in Australia before the introduction of exotic trout species. A handful of fly-fishing exponents in Australia are rediscovering the pleasure of catching (and releasing) these fascinating Australian native fish on ultra-light fly-fishing tackle.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
in the southern hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
. The majority of species live in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
or New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, some are also found in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, directly east of mainland Port Macquarie, and about from Norfolk Island. The island is about 11 km long and between 2.8 km and 0.6 km wide with an area of...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
and the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. One of the galaxiid species, the common galaxias
Common galaxias
The common galaxias or the inanga , is a species of fish from the galaxiid family that is very widespread in the southern hemisphere. It is a slim narrow fish with a forked tail and as an adult it lives in freshwater rivers and lakes. Common galaxias grows to a length of 40 to 120 mm, but can grow...
(Galaxias maculatus), is probably the most widely naturally distributed freshwater fish in the world. They are cool water species, found in temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
s, with only one species known from sub-tropical habitat. Many specialise in living in cold, high altitude upland
Upland and lowland (freshwater ecology)
In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland and lowland.-Definitions:Upland habitats are cold, clear, rocky, fast flowing rivers in mountainous areas; lowland habitats are warm, slow flowing rivers found in relatively flat lowland areas, with water that is...
rivers, streams and lakes.
Some galaxiids live in freshwater all their lives but many have a partially marine life cycle. In these cases, larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e are hatched in a river but are washed downstream to the ocean, later returning to rivers as juveniles to complete their development to full adulthood. This pattern differs from that of salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, which only return to freshwater to breed, and is described as amphidromous
Fish migration
Many types of fish migrate on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annually or longer, and over distances ranging from a few metres to thousands of kilometres...
.
Freshwater galaxiid species are gravely threatened by exotic salmonid species, particularly trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
species, which prey upon galaxiids and compete with them for food. Exotic salmonids have been recklessly introduced to many different landmasses (e.g. Australia, New Zealand), with no thought as to impacts on native fish, or attempts to preserve salmonid-free habitats for them. Numerous localised extinctions of galaxiid species have been caused by the introduction of exotic salmonids and a number of freshwater galaxiid species are threatened with overall extinction by exotic salmonids.
Taxonomic diversity
There are about fifty species in the Galaxiidae family, grouped into seven genera.Genera
- AplochitonAplochitonAplochiton is a genus of osmeriform fish of the family Galaxiidae.-Species:* Aplochiton taeniatus Jenyns, 1842* Aplochiton zebra Jenyns, 1842...
(2 species) - BrachygalaxiasBrachygalaxiasBrachygalaxias is a genus of osmeriform fish of the family Galaxiidae. It comprises two small species endemic to Chile.-Species:* Brachygalaxias bullocki * Brachygalaxias gothei Busse, 1982...
(2 species) - GalaxiasGalaxiasGalaxias is the common name for a large group of smallish, highly successful freshwater fish in the Galaxias genus and Galaxiidae family. Galaxias are restricted to the southern hemisphere, and generally only occur in temperate latitudes; only one species is known from sub-tropical habitat...
(34 species) - GalaxiellaGalaxiellaGalaxiella is an Australian genus of fish of the family Galaxiidae.-Species:* Mud minnow, Galaxiella munda McDowall, 1978* Black-stripe minnow, Galaxiella nigrostriata...
(3 species) - Lovettia (1 species)
- NeochannaNeochannaNeochanna is a genus of six mudfish species, five restricted to New Zealand, and one to Tasmania.-Species:* Brown mudfish, Neochanna apoda Günther, 1867* Canterbury mudfish, Neochanna burrowsius...
(6 species) - ParagalaxiasParagalaxiasParagalaxias is a genus of freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae, endemic to Tasmania, Australia.-Species:* Shannon galaxias, Paragalaxias dissimilis * Great Lake darter, Paragalaxias eleotroides McDowall & Fulton, 1978...
(4 species)
Australia
Galaxiids are found around the south eastern seaboard of Australia and in some parts of south western Australia. Species that are common to all areas are:- Common galaxiasCommon galaxiasThe common galaxias or the inanga , is a species of fish from the galaxiid family that is very widespread in the southern hemisphere. It is a slim narrow fish with a forked tail and as an adult it lives in freshwater rivers and lakes. Common galaxias grows to a length of 40 to 120 mm, but can grow...
or Jollytail galaxias, Galaxias maculatus - Spotted galaxiasSpotted galaxias-Introduction:Spotted galaxias are a largish, primarily-freshwater galaxias species found in southern Australia. Spotted galaxias are perhaps the most beautiful of the Australian galaxias species...
, Spotted mountain trout, or Spotted minnow, Galaxias truttaceus
South East Australian mainland
- Climbing galaxiasClimbing galaxiasThe Climbing galaxias or the Koaro , is a fish of the family Galaxiidae found in Australia, New Zealand and nearby islands. The name Climbing galaxias is used in Australia, and Koaro in New Zealand...
, Galaxias brevipinnis - Mountain galaxiasMountain galaxiasThe mountain galaxias species complex is a group of freshwater Galaxiid fish found all over southeast Australia. They form a cryptic species complex.-Classification:These fish were originally designated as a single species, Galaxias olidus, despite:...
, Galaxias olidus - Flathead galaxias (Australia)Flathead galaxias (Australia)The flathead galaxias, Galaxias rostratus, is a freshwater fish found in lowland rivers and streams and associated billabongs, backwaters, etc of the southern Murray-Darling river system in Australia....
, Galaxias rostratus
Threatened species are:
- Barred galaxias, Galaxias fuscus (Victoria)
- Dwarf galaxias (Australia)Dwarf galaxias (Australia)The dwarf galaxias, Galaxiella pusilla, is small Australian freshwater fish from the galaxiid family....
, Galaxiella pusilla (South Australia, Victoria) - Tasmanian mudfishTasmanian mudfishThe Tasmanian mudfish, Neochanna cleaveri, is a small Australian amphidromous fish in the galaxiid family, of the order Osmeriformes.- Distribution :...
, Neochanna cleaveri (Wilsons PromontoryWilsons Promontory National ParkWilsons Promontory National Park, commonly known as Wilsons Prom or The Prom, is a national park in the Gippsland region of Victoria , 157 km southeast of Melbourne....
, Victoria)
Western Australia
- Western galaxiasWestern galaxiasThe western galaxias , also called the western minnow, is a species of fish in the genus Galaxias of small, Southern Hemisphere freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae....
, Galaxias occidentalis - Mud minnowMud minnowMud minnow may refer to two species of fish found in southwest Australia:*Galaxiella munda, found at inland watercourses*Lepidogalaxias salamandroides, in semipermanent poolsMud minnow may also refer to:...
, Galaxiella munda - Black-stripe minnowBlack-stripe minnowThe black-stripe minnow is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is endemic to Western Australia.- Description :Galaxiella nigrostriata males grow to a maximum length of and females to a maximum length of...
, Galaxiella nigrostriata
Tasmania
Fifteen species of galaxiids have been found in Tasmania. The most common species are:
- Climbing galaxiasClimbing galaxiasThe Climbing galaxias or the Koaro , is a fish of the family Galaxiidae found in Australia, New Zealand and nearby islands. The name Climbing galaxias is used in Australia, and Koaro in New Zealand...
, Galaxias brevipinnis - Common galaxiasCommon galaxiasThe common galaxias or the inanga , is a species of fish from the galaxiid family that is very widespread in the southern hemisphere. It is a slim narrow fish with a forked tail and as an adult it lives in freshwater rivers and lakes. Common galaxias grows to a length of 40 to 120 mm, but can grow...
, Galaxias maculatus - Spotted galaxiasSpotted galaxias-Introduction:Spotted galaxias are a largish, primarily-freshwater galaxias species found in southern Australia. Spotted galaxias are perhaps the most beautiful of the Australian galaxias species...
, Galaxias truttaceus
While endangered species are:
- Saddled galaxiasSaddled galaxiasThe saddled galaxias is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is endemic to Australia.-Source:* Wager, R. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, Galaxias tanycephalus - Pedder galaxiasPedder galaxiasPedder galaxias, Galaxias pedderensis, is a critically endangered Australian freshwater fish. It is considered to be extinct in the wild and was originally found only in Lake Pedder in Tasmania.-Range:...
, Galaxias pedderensis - Swan galaxias, Galaxias fontanus
- Swamp galaxias, Galaxias parvus
- Golden galaxias, Galaxias auratus
- Dwarf galaxias (Australia)Dwarf galaxias (Australia)The dwarf galaxias, Galaxiella pusilla, is small Australian freshwater fish from the galaxiid family....
, Galaxiella pusilla - Clarence galaxiasClarence galaxiasThe Clarence galaxias is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is endemic to Australia.-Source:* Wager, R. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, Galaxias johnstoni - Tasmanian mudfishTasmanian mudfishThe Tasmanian mudfish, Neochanna cleaveri, is a small Australian amphidromous fish in the galaxiid family, of the order Osmeriformes.- Distribution :...
, Neochanna cleaveri - Western paragalaxias, Paragalaxias julianus
- Great Lake paragalaxias, Paragalaxias eleotroides
- Arthurs paragalaxiasArthurs paragalaxiasThe arthurs paragalaxias is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is endemic to Australia.-References:* Wager, R. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, Paragalaxias mesotes - Shannon paragalaxias, Paragalaxias dissimilis
New Zealand
Twenty-two species of galaxiids have been discovered in New Zealand. Most of these live in freshwater all their lives. However, the larvae of five species of the Galaxias genus develop in the ocean where they form part of the plankton and return to rivers and streams as juveniles (whitebait) where they develop and remain as adults. All Galaxias species found in New Zealand are endemic, except for Galaxias brevipinnis (koaro) and Galaxias maculatus (inanga).- Roundhead galaxiasRoundhead galaxiasThe roundhead galaxias, Galaxias anomalus, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in the Taieri and Clutha catchments in Otago, New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 13 cm.-References:*...
, Galaxias anomalus - Giant kokopuGiant kokopuFor a general article about all 3 kokopu.The giant kokopu, Galaxias argenteus, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 45 cm and is the largest member of the Galaxiidae family. It is also one of the five species that occur in the whitebait...
, Galaxias argenteus - Koaro or short-fin galaxias, Galaxias brevipinnis
- Lowland longjawed galaxiasLowland longjawed galaxiasThe lowland longjawed galaxias, Galaxias cobitinis, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in the South Island of New Zealand, in the Kauru River, a tributary of the Kakanui River in north Otago, and in parts of the upper Waitaki catchment...
, Galaxias cobitinis - Flathead galaxiasFlathead galaxias (New Zealand)The flathead galaxias, Galaxias depressiceps, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found primarily in the Taieri River catchment in Otago, New Zealand. This species should not be confused with the Australian fish with the same common name: Galaxias rostratus.-References:*...
, Galaxias depressiceps - Dwarf galaxiasDwarf galaxiasThe dwarf galaxias, Galaxias divergens, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in the lower North Island and upper South Island of New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 9 cm....
, Galaxias divergens - Eldons galaxiasEldons galaxiasThe Eldons galaxias, Galaxias eldoni, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, endemic to New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 15 cm.-References:*...
, Galaxias eldoni - Banded kokopuBanded kokopuFor a general article about all 3 kokopu.The banded kokopu, Galaxias fasciatus, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in New Zealand, including the Chatham and Stewart/Rakiura islands...
, Galaxias fasciatus - Gollum galaxiasGollum galaxiasThe Gollum galaxias, Galaxias gollumoides, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in New Zealand, on Stewart Island/Rakiura, throughout the Catlins and Southland, and in the Nevis River. It grows to a length of up to 15 cm.-References:*...
, Galaxias gollumoides - Dwarf inangaDwarf inangaThe dwarf inanga, Galaxias gracilis, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found in the North Island of New Zealand.It is a landlocked galaxiid present in only 11 lakes on the west coast of the North Island within 50 km of Dargaville, and in Lake Ototoa on the South Kaipara Head, where it was...
, Galaxias gracilis - Bignose galaxias, "Galaxias macronasus"
- InangaCommon galaxiasThe common galaxias or the inanga , is a species of fish from the galaxiid family that is very widespread in the southern hemisphere. It is a slim narrow fish with a forked tail and as an adult it lives in freshwater rivers and lakes. Common galaxias grows to a length of 40 to 120 mm, but can grow...
, common galaxiasCommon galaxiasThe common galaxias or the inanga , is a species of fish from the galaxiid family that is very widespread in the southern hemisphere. It is a slim narrow fish with a forked tail and as an adult it lives in freshwater rivers and lakes. Common galaxias grows to a length of 40 to 120 mm, but can grow...
or common jollytail, Galaxias maculatus - Alpine galaxiasAlpine galaxiasThe alpine river galaxias, Galaxias paucispondylus, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in mid to high altitude streams flowing from the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 11 cm....
, Galaxias paucispondylus - Shortjaw kokopuShortjaw kokopuFor a general article about all 3 kokopu.The shortjaw kokopu, Galaxias postvectis, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in New Zealand, apart from the Chatham and Stewart/Rakiura islands. It grows to a length of up to 26 cm....
, Galaxias postvectis - Longjawed galaxiasLongjawed galaxiasThe longjawed galaxias, Galaxias prognathus, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in rivers and streams at mid to high altitudes on the eastern side of the Southern Alps in the South Island of New Zealand...
, Galaxias prognathus - Dusky galaxiasDusky galaxiasThe dusky galaxias, Galaxias pullus, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in the Taieri and Clutha catchments in Otago, New Zealand.-References:*...
, Galaxias pullus - Common river galaxiasCommon river galaxiasThe common river galaxias or Canterbury galaxias, Galaxias vulgaris, is a galaxiid fish of the genus Galaxias, found only in Canterbury, New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 15 cm .-References:*...
or Canterbury galaxias, Galaxias vulgaris - Brown mudfishBrown mudfishThe brown mudfish, Neochanna apoda, is a galaxiid of the genus Neochanna, endemic to New Zealand, where it lives on the southwest coast of North Island and on the northwest coast of the South Island...
, Neochanna apoda - Canterbury mudfishCanterbury mudfishThe Canterbury mudfish, Neochanna burrowsius, also known as the kowaro, is a galaxiid of the genus Neochanna, found only across the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand. The first Canterbury mudfish was originally described by W J Phillipps in 1926, from a sample sent to him by A. Burrows, from the...
, Neochanna burrowsius - Black mudfishBlack mudfishThe black mudfish, Neochanna diversus, is a galaxiid of the family Galaxiidae, found only in swamps and wetlands in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand, from Kaitaia in the north to the Mokau River in the south. Its length is up to 12 cm.-References: Database entry includes...
, Neochanna diversus - Northland mudfishNorthland mudfishThe Northland mudfish, Neochanna heleios, is a galaxiid of the genus Neochanna, found only in swampy locations west of the Bay of Islands in Northland, New Zealand. Its length is up to 134 mm.-References:* *...
, Neochanna heleios - Chatham mudfishChatham mudfishThe Chatham mudfish, Neochanna rekohua, is a galaxiid of the genus Neochanna, endemic to the island of Chatham, the main island of the Chatham Islands. It was discovered in 1997 by C. P. Mitchell.-References:*...
, Neochanna rekohua
South America
- PuyenCommon galaxiasThe common galaxias or the inanga , is a species of fish from the galaxiid family that is very widespread in the southern hemisphere. It is a slim narrow fish with a forked tail and as an adult it lives in freshwater rivers and lakes. Common galaxias grows to a length of 40 to 120 mm, but can grow...
, Galaxias maculatus (Chile, Argentina) - Aplochiton marinusAplochiton marinusAplochiton marinus is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is an amphidromous fish migrating between marine and fresh water.A. marinus is endemic to Chile. FishBase lists A. marinus as a synonym of Aplochiton taeniatus , but IUCN treats it as a distinct species of its own....
/ Aplochiton taeniatus (Chile / Argentina) - Brachygalaxias bullockiBrachygalaxias bullockiBrachygalaxias bullocki is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is endemic to Chile.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. . Downloaded on 3 August 2007....
(Chile) - Brachygalaxias gotheiBrachygalaxias gotheiBrachygalaxias gothei is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is endemic to Chile.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
(Chile)
Fishing
The juveniles of those galaxiids that develop in the ocean and then move into rivers for their adult life are caught as whitebaitWhitebait
Whitebait is a collective term for the immature fry of fish, typically between 25 and 50 millimetres long. Such young fish often travel together in schools along the coast, and move into estuaries and sometimes up rivers where they can be easily caught with fine meshed fishing nets...
while moving upstream and are much valued as a delicacy. Adult galaxiids may be caught for food but they are generally not large. In some cases their exploitation may be banned (i.e. New Zealand) unless available to indigenous
Indigenous peoples of Oceania
The indigenous peoples of Oceania are those peoples identified as indigenous peoples, as per the modern global definition of the term.Many of the present-day Pacific Island nations in the Oceania region were originally populated by Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian peoples over the course of...
tribes.
In addition to serious impacts from exotic trout species, Australian adult galaxiids suffer a disregard from anglers for being "too small" and "not being trout". This is despite the fact that several Australian galaxiid species, though smallish, grow to a sufficient size to be catchable and readily take wet and dry flies, and that one of these species — the spotted galaxias
Spotted galaxias
-Introduction:Spotted galaxias are a largish, primarily-freshwater galaxias species found in southern Australia. Spotted galaxias are perhaps the most beautiful of the Australian galaxias species...
— was keenly fished for in Australia before the introduction of exotic trout species. A handful of fly-fishing exponents in Australia are rediscovering the pleasure of catching (and releasing) these fascinating Australian native fish on ultra-light fly-fishing tackle.