Pedder galaxias (Galaxias pedderensis)

Scientific name: Galaxias pedderensis Frankenberg, 1968

The Pedder galaxias (Galaxias pedderensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae. Native range: Oceania, known only from Lake Pedder and Lake Gordon in southern Tasmania, Australia.

Biology

Lives in rocky lake margins and occurs to a lesser extent around submerged vegetation and log snags. Usually around rocks and boulders on lake margins in darkly tannin-stained water. Juveniles shoal in open water near lake margins. Spring spawning occurs in small feeder streams. Eggs are deposited in sheltered positions among vegetation, rocks or woody debris and take about 3-4 weeks to hatch. Sexual maturity is reached after the second year but most fish breed in their third or fourth year. Feeds on crustaceans and insect larvae. Spawning probably occurs in spring as juveniles are numerous during summer months.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Galaxias pedderensis
Family
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids)
Order
Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
16.0
Common length
8.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Oceania: known only from Lake Pedder and Lake Gordon in southern Tasmania, Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Critically Endangered (CR) (A1ac+2c, B1+2abcde)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=200-1,200)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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