Canterbury mudfish
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| Neochanna burrowsius (Phillipps, 1926) |
The Canterbury mudfish, Neochanna burrowsius, is a galaxiid of the genus Neochanna, found only in weedy springs, drains, and irrigation races at low to mid altitudes across the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand. Its length is up to 15 cm.
The Canterbury mudfish can be distinguished from other Galaxids by the presence of 4 or 5 rays in the pelvic fins of Canterbury mudfish compared to 7 in the other galaxids. They also have comparatively small eyes.
They do not usually co-exist with other fish species, probably because they frequent habitats that are subject to drying up in summer. Like the other mudfish species, when their habitat dries up they can aestivate until the wet season arrives.
Canterbury mudfish are considered to be a rare species. A release of Canterbury mudfish has been carried out in a protected wetland near Willowby south of Ashburton, New Zealand, where it is hoped they will survive and reproduce.
[edit] References
- McDowall & Simons (1996). Neochanna burrowsius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU B1+2bcd v2.3)
- "Neochanna burrowsius". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- NIWA June 2006
