Shannon galaxias (Paragalaxias dissimilis)

Scientific name: Paragalaxias dissimilis Regan, 1906

The Shannon galaxias (Paragalaxias dissimilis) is a freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae. Native range: Oceania, known only from the Central Plateau of Tasmania, Australia.

Biology

Live in the margins of lakes and streams, usually in rocky areas or around vegetation and debris. Bottom-dweller in shallows of lakes and inlet streams over rocky substrates. Often sheltering in crevices under rocks, woody debris or among aquatic plants. May also occur in deeper lacustrine waters. A nocturnally active, seldom seen species. Breed in summer (December-January), releasing demersal eggs among rocks at lake margins which hatch in two weeks. Juveniles swim in midwater feeding on plankton, and colonise the bottom after about six months. Sexual maturity is attained at the end of the first year; the maximum life span is probably about three years. Feed on insects, small crustaceans, algae and eggs of other galaxiids.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Paragalaxias dissimilis
Family
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids)
Order
Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
7.5
Common length
5.5
Environment
Freshwater; demersal
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Oceania: known only from the Central Plateau of Tasmania, Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=1; tmax=3; Fec=39)

Sources

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

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