Gollum galaxias
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| Galaxias gollumoides McDowall & Chadderton, 1999 |
The Gollum galaxias, Galaxias gollumoides, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in New Zealand, on Stewart Island, throughout the Catlins and Southland, and in the Nevis River. It grows to a length of up to 15 cm.
Gollum galaxias are speckled brown over a light golden brown base, forming indistinct vertical bars. The single dorsal fin is rounded, and set back two thirds of the body length, the anal fin a little further back. The caudal fin is large with the upper lobe a little longer than the lower. Like all galaxiids it lacks scales and has a thick, leathery skin covered with mucus.
Gollum galaxias have 6 pelvic fin rays whereas most of the other galaxiids usually have 7. The unusual name refers to its similarity to Gollum, a character in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings", because the fish was first found in a swamp and has relatively large eyes.
They are non-diadromous and therefore do not have a marine phase and are not part of the whitebait catch.
[edit] References
- "Galaxias gollumoides". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- NIWA June 2006
