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Galaxiidae

January 01, 1970

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 (Galaxias maculatus), 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.[1] Many specialise in living in cold, high-altitude upland rivers, streams, and lakes.

Galaxiidae
A mountain galaxias (Galaxias olidus)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Superorder: Osmeromorpha
Order: Galaxiiformes
Family: Galaxiidae
Bonaparte 1832
Genera

See text

Some galaxiids live in fresh water all their lives, but many have a partially marine lifecycle. In these cases, larvae 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 fresh water to breed, and is described as amphidromous.[2]

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 land masses (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.[1]

Taxonomic diversity edit

About 50 species are in the family Galaxiidae, grouped into seven genera:[3]

Genera edit

  • Subfamily Aplochitoninae Begle 1991
    • Genus Aplochiton Jenyns 1842 [Haplochiton Agassiz 1846; Farionella Valenciennes 1850 ex Cuvier & Valenciennes 1850] (two species)
    • Genus Lovettia McCulloch 1915 (one species)
  • Subfamily Galaxiinae [Paragalaxiinae Scott 1936]
    • Genus Brachygalaxias Eigenmann 1928 (two species)
    • Genus Galaxias Cuvier 1816 [Saxilaga Scott 1936; Galaxias (Agalaxis) Scott 1936; Agalaxis (Scott 1936); Lyragalaxias Whitley 1935; Austrocobitis Ogilby 1899; Mesites Jenyns 1842 non Schoenherr 1838 non Geoffroy 1838; Nesogalaxias Whitley 1935] (34 species)
    • Genus Galaxiella McDowall 1978 (four species)
    • Genus Neochanna Günther 1867 [Saxilaga (Lixagasa) Scott 1936; Lixagasa (Scott 1936); Saxilaga Scott 1936] (six species)
    • Genus Paragalaxias Scott 1935 [Querigalaxias Whitley 1935] (four species)

Species by geography edit

Australia edit

Galaxiids are found around the south eastern seaboard of Australia and in some parts of south western Australia. The galaxiids and the temperate perches (Percichthyidae) are the dominant native freshwater fish families of southern Australia. Species common to all areas include:

South east Australian mainland

Threatened species are:

Western Australia

Tasmania Seventeen species of galaxiids have been found in Tasmania. The most common species are:

Tasmanian endangered species include:

New Zealand edit

Twenty-three species of galaxiids have been discovered in New Zealand, and prior to the introduction of non-native species such as trout, they were the dominant freshwater fish family. Most of these live in fresh water all their lives. However, the larvae of five species of the genus Galaxias develop in the ocean, where they form part of the zooplankton 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).

South America edit

South Africa edit

Fishing edit

The juveniles of those galaxiids that develop in the ocean and then move into rivers for their adult lives are caught as whitebait 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 (e.g. 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 Australian native fish on ultralight fly-fishing tackle.

References edit

  1. ^ a b McDowall, R. M. (2006). "Crying wolf, crying foul, or crying shame: Alien salmonids and a biodiversity crisis in the southern cool-temperate galaxioid fishes?". Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 16 (3–4): 233–422. doi:10.1007/s11160-006-9017-7. S2CID 11504101.
  2. ^ McDowall, Robert M. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-12-547665-2.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2021). "Galaxiidae" in FishBase. July 2021 version.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Galaxiidae.
  • "New Zealand large galaxiid recovery plan, 2003-13: shortjaw kokopu, giant kokopu, banded kokopu, and koaro (Threatened Species Recovery Plan 55)" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 2004. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  • "New Zealand non-migratory galaxiid fishes recovery plan (Threatened Species Recovery Plan 53)" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 2004. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  • New Zealand native freshwater galaxiid fish TerraNature, Auckland 2010

January 01, 1970
galaxiidae, family, mostly, small, freshwater, fish, southern, hemisphere, majority, live, southern, australia, zealand, some, found, south, africa, southern, south, america, lord, howe, island, caledonia, falkland, islands, galaxiid, species, common, galaxias. 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 Galaxias maculatus 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 1 Many specialise in living in cold high altitude upland rivers streams and lakes Galaxiidae A mountain galaxias Galaxias olidus Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Superorder Osmeromorpha Order Galaxiiformes Family GalaxiidaeBonaparte 1832 Genera See text Some galaxiids live in fresh water all their lives but many have a partially marine lifecycle In these cases larvae 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 fresh water to breed and is described as amphidromous 2 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 land masses 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 1 Contents 1 Taxonomic diversity 1 1 Genera 1 2 Species by geography 1 2 1 Australia 1 2 2 New Zealand 1 2 3 South America 1 2 4 South Africa 2 Fishing 3 References 4 External linksTaxonomic diversity editAbout 50 species are in the family Galaxiidae grouped into seven genera 3 Genera edit Subfamily Aplochitoninae Begle 1991 Genus Aplochiton Jenyns 1842 Haplochiton Agassiz 1846 Farionella Valenciennes 1850 ex Cuvier amp Valenciennes 1850 two species Genus Lovettia McCulloch 1915 one species Subfamily Galaxiinae Paragalaxiinae Scott 1936 Genus Brachygalaxias Eigenmann 1928 two species Genus Galaxias Cuvier 1816 Saxilaga Scott 1936 Galaxias Agalaxis Scott 1936 Agalaxis Scott 1936 Lyragalaxias Whitley 1935 Austrocobitis Ogilby 1899 Mesites Jenyns 1842 non Schoenherr 1838 non Geoffroy 1838 Nesogalaxias Whitley 1935 34 species Genus Galaxiella McDowall 1978 four species Genus Neochanna Gunther 1867 Saxilaga Lixagasa Scott 1936 Lixagasa Scott 1936 Saxilaga Scott 1936 six species Genus Paragalaxias Scott 1935 Querigalaxias Whitley 1935 four species Species by geography edit Australia edit Galaxiids are found around the south eastern seaboard of Australia and in some parts of south western Australia The galaxiids and the temperate perches Percichthyidae are the dominant native freshwater fish families of southern Australia Species common to all areas include Common galaxias or jollytail galaxias Galaxias maculatus Spotted galaxias spotted mountain trout or spotted minnow Galaxias truttaceus South east Australian mainland Climbing galaxias Galaxias brevipinnis Mountain galaxias Galaxias olidus Flathead galaxias Galaxias rostratus Threatened species are Galaxias fuscus Victoria also called barred galaxias or brown galaxias Dwarf galaxias Galaxiella pusilla South Australia Victoria Tasmanian mudfish Neochanna cleaveri Wilsons Promontory Victoria Western Australia Western galaxias Galaxias occidentalis Mud minnow Galaxiella munda Black stripe minnow Galaxiella nigrostriata Tasmania Seventeen species of galaxiids have been found in Tasmania The most common species are Climbing galaxias Galaxias brevipinnis Common galaxias Galaxias maculatus Spotted galaxias Galaxias truttaceus Tasmanian endangered species include Saddled galaxias Galaxias tanycephalus Pedder galaxias Galaxias pedderensis Swan galaxias Galaxias fontanus Swamp galaxias Galaxias parvus Golden galaxias Galaxias auratus Dwarf galaxias Galaxiella pusilla Clarence galaxias Galaxias johnstoni Tasmanian mudfish Neochanna cleaveri Western paragalaxias Paragalaxias julianus Great Lake paragalaxias Paragalaxias eleotroides Arthurs paragalaxias Paragalaxias mesotes Shannon paragalaxias Paragalaxias dissimilis New Zealand edit Twenty three species of galaxiids have been discovered in New Zealand and prior to the introduction of non native species such as trout they were the dominant freshwater fish family Most of these live in fresh water all their lives However the larvae of five species of the genus Galaxias develop in the ocean where they form part of the zooplankton 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 galaxias Galaxias anomalus Giant kokopu Galaxias argenteus Climbing galaxias koaro or short fin galaxias Galaxias brevipinnis Lowland longjawed galaxias Galaxias cobitinis Flathead galaxias Galaxias depressiceps Dwarf galaxias Galaxias divergens Eldon s galaxias Galaxias eldoni Banded kokopu Galaxias fasciatus Gollum galaxias Galaxias gollumoides Dwarf inanga Galaxias gracilis Bignose galaxias Galaxias macronasus Common galaxias inanga or common jollytail Galaxias maculatus Alpine galaxias Galaxias paucispondylus Shortjaw kokopu Galaxias postvectis Longjawed galaxias Galaxias prognathus Dusky galaxias Galaxias pullus Common river galaxias or Canterbury galaxias Galaxias vulgaris Brown mudfish Neochanna apoda Canterbury mudfish Neochanna burrowsius Black mudfish Neochanna diversus Northland mudfish Neochanna heleios Chatham mudfish Neochanna rekohua South America edit Aplochiton taeniatus Chile Argentina Falklands Islands Common galaxias or puyen Galaxias maculatus Chile Argentina Falkland Islands Brachygalaxias bullocki Chile Brachygalaxias gothei Chile Galaxias globiceps Chile Galaxias platei Chile South Africa edit Cape galaxias Galaxias zebratus Cape Province South Africa Fishing editThe juveniles of those galaxiids that develop in the ocean and then move into rivers for their adult lives are caught as whitebait 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 e g 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 Australian native fish on ultralight fly fishing tackle References edit a b McDowall R M 2006 Crying wolf crying foul or crying shame Alien salmonids and a biodiversity crisis in the southern cool temperate galaxioid fishes Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 16 3 4 233 422 doi 10 1007 s11160 006 9017 7 S2CID 11504101 McDowall Robert M 1998 Paxton J R Eschmeyer W N eds Encyclopedia of Fishes San Diego Academic Press p 117 ISBN 978 0 12 547665 2 Froese Rainer and Daniel Pauly eds 2021 Galaxiidae in FishBase July 2021 version External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Galaxiidae New Zealand large galaxiid recovery plan 2003 13 shortjaw kokopu giant kokopu banded kokopu and koaro Threatened Species Recovery Plan 55 PDF Department of Conservation Wellington New Zealand 2004 Retrieved 2007 09 05 New Zealand non migratory galaxiid fishes recovery plan Threatened Species Recovery Plan 53 PDF Department of Conservation Wellington New Zealand 2004 Retrieved 2007 09 19 New Zealand native freshwater galaxiid fish TerraNature Auckland 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Galaxiidae amp oldid 1181990989, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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