| Western galaxias | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Galaxiiformes |
| Family: | Galaxiidae |
| Genus: | Galaxias |
| Species: | G. occidentalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Galaxias occidentalis J. D. Ogilby, 1899 | |
The western galaxias (Galaxias occidentalis), also called the western minnow, is a species of fish in the genus Galaxias of small, Southern Hemisphere freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae . It is endemic to southwestern Australia.
The western galaxias is large compared with other galaxiids, commonly growing to around 100 millimetres (4 in) in length but can grow up to 170 millimetres (7 in). It is a slender fish with a flattened head and snout and no scales. The single dorsal fin is set far back above the anal fin and has seven to ten soft rays while the anal fin has eleven to fourteen soft rays. Its dorsal surface and flanks are olive green with indistinct dark vertical bars and its belly is silvery-white. [1] [2]
The western galaxias is found in many waterways in the South West region of Western Australia from north of Perth to as far east as Albany. It is found in clear water at the edge of pools in rivers, at the base of rapids or waterfalls, in ponds, in shallow parts of lakes and in slow-flowing saline rivers. It can tolerate brackish pools and acidic or tannin-stained water. [2]
The western galaxias is a fast-swimming schooling fish and often forms shoals just above the substrate in the shallows. It is often found in and around submerged vegetation in rocky pools at the base of rapids and waterfalls. At the beginning of the wet season it moves upstream to small streams where it spawns among vegetation in flooded areas. It becomes sexually mature at the age of one year and may live for five years. The western galaxias is carnivorous and mainly feeds on small insects and crustaceans. [2]
The flier is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a sunfish from the family Centrarchidae which is endemic to the southern United States of America. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Centrarchus. A Second World War United States Navy submarine was named the USS Flier after this fish.
Galaxias olidus, the mountain galaxias, is a species of freshwater galaxiid fish widely found in southeastern Australia.
The Tasmanian mudfish, Neochanna cleaveri, is a small Australian amphidromous fish in the galaxiid family, of the order Osmeriformes.
The Cape galaxias is a species of freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae.
The sheepshead minnow or sheepshead pupfish is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinodontidae, the pupfishes. It is found in salt marsh and estuary environments and is native to the eastern coasts of North and Central America.
The southern redbelly dace, is a North American species of temperate freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. The natural geographic range extends from Western New York to Minnesota, and south to Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Alabama. This fish prefers flowing pools of creeks and streams.
The black-stripe minnow is a small freshwater species of fish in the family Galaxiidae. It is endemic to southwestern Australia where it is found in slow-running streams, ponds, swamps and ditches.
Kuhlia marginata, the dark-margined flagtail, spotted flagtail, silver flagtail, orange-finned flagtail, northern jungle perch or mountain bass, is a species of diadromous ray-finned fish, a flagtail from the family Kuhliidae. It is found in eastern Asia and Oceania.
The Fortescue grunter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a grunter from the family Terapontidae. It is endemic to rivers in Western Australia.
The southern pygmy perch, also known as the Tasmanian pygmy perch, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a temperate perch from the family Percichthyidae which is native to southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
Aphyocypris lini, the garnet minnow or Venus minnow, is a species of cyprinid endemic to China. It was first collected from Hong Kong by A.W. Herre in 1936. The introduction of mosquitofish and habitat destruction caused the extirpation of this species from Hong Kong and the species was considered to be extinct in the wild. However, a similar species Aphyocypris pulchrilineata was discovered in Guangxi in southern China, but this species lacks the dark spot on the base of the caudal fin.
The slim minnow is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the family Cyprinidae, the carps and minnows which is endemic to the United States, in Ozarks of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
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 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 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 supremus, 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, 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.