Dusky galaxias
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| Galaxias pullus McDowall, 1997 |
The dusky galaxias, Galaxias pullus, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in the Taieri and clutha catchments in Otago, New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 15 cm.
The dusky galaxias has 14 caudal fin rays, and this is used to distinguish it from Eldons galaxias Galaxias eldoni (15 fin rays), and roundhead galaxias Galaxias anomalus (16 fin rays), both of which also occur in the Taieri River catchment.
The single dorsal and anal fins are rounded, and set back near the caudal fin. Like all galaxiids it lacks scales and has a thick, leathery skin covered with mucus. Colouring is irregular solid dark brown markings tending to form vertical bars, on a light brown background. There are also darker blotches behind the gill openings.
The dusky galaxias lives in tussock and forest streams at mid to high elevations (400-1,000 m), utilizing riffle and pool habitats. Spawning occurs in spring with the fish laying their eggs under overhanging banks in riffles. They are non-diadromous and therefore do not have a marine phase and is not part of the whitebait catch.
[edit] References
- "Galaxias pullus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- NIWA June 2006
