Chatham mudfish
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| Neochanna rekohua |
The Chatham mudfish, Neochanna rekohua, is a galaxiid of the genus Neochanna, found only in two remote peat lakes on the southern part of the island of Chatham, the main island of the Chatham Islands. It was discovered in 1997 by C P Mitchell.
The Chatham mudfish is similar to the other New Zealand mudfishes but can be distinguished by the presence of well developed pelvic fins, and from other galaxiids by the deep caudal peduncle with strong dorsal and ventral flanges. Juvenile Chatham mudfish resemble inanga, but the two species do not co-exist. The Chatham mudfish apparently lives its whole life in fresh water, although little is known about its habits. The specific name rekohua is the Moriori name for Chatham Island.
Coloration is light brown, with irregular dark brown markings tending to form approximately vertical stripes.
[edit] References
- NIWA June 2006
- IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [1] Downloaded on 21 November 2006.
