| Galaxias fuscus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Galaxiiformes |
| Family: | Galaxiidae |
| Genus: | Galaxias |
| Species complex: | Mountain galaxias |
| Species: | G. fuscus |
| Binomial name | |
| Galaxias fuscus Mack, 1936 | |
Galaxias fuscus, the barred galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias , a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia. [1] [2]
Galaxias fuscus is a freshwater fish with the typical bodyform of the genus Galaxias with fins generally larger and more rounded compared to other Galaxiids. Size to 165 millimetres (6.5 in), commonly 80–105 millimetres (3.1–4.1 in). Colour is overall yellow-orange to red-orange with distinctive unevenly spaced and variable in number dark to black vertical bars, usually rounded at the top and more pointed at the bottom, an inverted tear drop shape. The number of bars varies from none to about ten, but usually less than seven with the number of bars and spacing often not the same on each side of the fish. The head and upper surfaces of the body above the lateral line are often overlaid with a dusky shading made up of many small dark grey spots. The side bars often have a "halo" surrounding them where the dusky shading is not present, exposing the base body colour. [2]
The barred Galaxias is found in the upper reaches of the Goulburn River system north of the Great Dividing Range at an elevation of 400–1,600 metres (1,300–5,200 ft) AMSL within the Murray-Darling Basin and roughly 75 kilometres (47 mi) north east of Melbourne. The species is now extinct in previously recorded locations: the lower Rubicon River near Rubicon; Mountain Creek near Kinglake; Whitehouse Creek north east of Marysville); and, Gaffneys Creek near A1 Mine Settlement. Range is limited to areas that are trout free. [2]
G. fuscus prefers small, shallow, overgrown and steep moderate to fast-flowing, cool to cold rivers and creeks with a stream bed of bedrock, large and small stones, pebble, gravel and sand. Instream cover consists of large and small woody debris, rocks and tree roots within undercut banks. The maximum water temperature is about 15 °C (59 °F). [2]
Spawning occurs from late September to early October. The eggs are about 2.2 millimetres (0.087 in) in diameter, are adhesive and laid on the sides or beneath rocks in fast, shallow water. The eggs hatch in about a month and the newly hatched larvae are about 8–12 millimetres (0.31–0.47 in) long. The fish can withstand very cold water, below 3 °C (37 °F), including stretches above and immediately downstream of the snowline in winter. [2]
Protected under the national Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. [3] Listed as endangered under the IUCN Red List. [1]
Not an angling target due to small size and conservation status.
The Galaxiidae are a family of mostly small freshwater fish in the Southern Hemisphere. The majority live in Southern Australia or New Zealand, but some are found in South Africa, southern South America, Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, and the Falkland Islands. One galaxiid species, the common galaxias, is probably the most widely naturally distributed freshwater fish in the Southern Hemisphere. They are coolwater species, found in temperate latitudes, with only one species known from subtropical habitats. Many specialise in living in cold, high-altitude upland rivers, streams, and lakes.
The mountain galaxias is a species complex of freshwater galaxiid fish found all over southeast Australia.
Galaxias olidus, the mountain galaxias, is a species of freshwater galaxiid fish widely found in southeastern Australia.
The giant kōkopu is a threatened species of ray-finned fish in the genus Galaxias, found only in New Zealand. It can reach up to 58 cm (23 in) in length and 2.7 kg (6.0 lb) in weight, making it the largest species in the family Galaxiidae. It is a mainly lowland species, commonly found in slow-flowing streams, wetlands, lakes, and lagoons. Most populations have an amphidromous life cycle, with larvae going to sea soon after hatching and returning about four months later as small juveniles, 4.5–5 cm (1.8–2.0 in). Juvenile giant kōkopu form a small part of the annual whitebait catch.
Eldon's galaxias is an endangered galaxiid fish endemic to New Zealand. One of several fishes in the genus Galaxias found in Central Otago, it has a very small home range and is at risk of being driven to extinction by trout introduced for recreational fishing.
The common river galaxias or Canterbury galaxias is a galaxiid fish of the genus Galaxias, found only in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Galaxias is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Galaxiidae, and are frequently referred to as the galaxiids. These highly adaptable fish are typically found at temperate latitudes across the Southern Hemisphere.
Galaxias aequipinnis, the East Gippsland galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias arcanus, the riffle galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias brevissimus, the short-tail galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias gunaikurnai, the Shaw galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias lanceolatus, the tapered galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias longifundus, the West Gippsland galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias mcdowalli, McDowall's galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias mungadhan, the Dargo galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Victoria, Australia.
Galaxias oliros, the obscure galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias ornatus, the ornate galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias supremus, commonly known as the Kosciuszko galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
Galaxias tantangara, commonly known as the stocky galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia. Only discovered in 2014, the fish is classed as critically endangered, mainly because of being preyed upon by introduced species of trout.
Galaxias terenasus, the roundsnout galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.
| Authority control databases: National |
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