Teleostei (teleosts) >
Galaxiiformes (Southern smelts) >
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids) > Galaxiinae
Etymology: Galaxiella: Greek, galaxias, ou = a kind of fish, diminutive (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate; 8°C - 24°C (Ref. 2060); 31°S - 35°S
Oceania: endemic to Australia. Known only from the southwestern part in coastal streams between Albany and Ellen Brook.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 4.7  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); common length : 3.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9 - 12; Vertebrae: 38 - 43. Adults are brown-grey dorsally and white ventrally with several whitish blotches near the dorsal midline, and a broad brown stripe just below midline from behind eye to caudal-fin base.
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occur in swift-flowing, tea-colored streams coursing through karri forests. Also found in swamps, ponds and roadside ditches. Usually lives in small flowing streams near submerged vegetation. Water inhabited is darkly tannin-stained and acidic (pH 3.0-6.0) (Ref. 44894). Feed on insects and their larvae in water; also on micro-crustaceans. Spawning has been recorded from July to October, peaking between August and September when water temperatures and day length are on the rise. Multiple-spawning females deposit several clutches of eggs over a protracted period of a few weeks in flooded vegetation. Sexual maturity is attained in the first year. Spent adults usually die a few months after spawning (Ref. 44894).
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 = 0.5625 [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): 3.2 ±0.36 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=3.70; tm=1; tmax=1; mean Fec=65).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).