Teleostei (teleosts) >
Galaxiiformes (Southern smelts) >
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids) > Galaxiinae
Etymology: Galaxias: Greek, galaxias, ou = a kind of fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate; 44°S - 45°S
Oceania: known only from Lake Pedder and Lake Gordon in southern Tasmania, Australia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 10 - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); common length : 8.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259)
Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274); Lives in rocky lake margins and occurs to a lesser extent around submerged vegetation and log snags. Usually around rocks and boulders on lake margins in darkly tannin-stained water. Juveniles shoal in open water near lake margins. Spring spawning occurs in small feeder streams. Eggs are deposited in sheltered positions among vegetation, rocks or woody debris and take about 3-4 weeks to hatch. Sexual maturity is reached after the second year but most fish breed in their third or fourth year (Ref. 44894). Feeds on crustaceans and insect larvae. Spawning probably occurs in spring as juveniles are numerous during summer months.
In captivity, eggs are deposited under flat rocks as well as underneath aquatic vegetation and submerged driftwood.
Allen, G.R., 1989. Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. (Ref. 5259)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00490 (0.00205 - 0.01170), b=3.12 (2.91 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.45 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=200-1,200).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).