Galaxias lanceolatus Raadik, 2014
Tapered Galaxias

Family:  Galaxiidae (Galaxiids), subfamily: Galaxiinae
Max. size:  8.4 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6.0 g
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 0 - 1 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Oceania: Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae: 53-55. This species is distinguished from its congeners in the Galaxias olidus complex by the following characters: trunk with the dorsal and ventral profiles evenly arched from snout to dorsal fin; the dorsal and anal fin lengths, and fin base lengths, about equal; snout and upper lip are slightly anteriorly expanded and fleshy; dorsal midline usually broadly flattened anteriorly; dorsal profile of head distinctly flat anterior to nape; mouth cleft is moderately oblique; nostrils are short, not visible from ventral view; caudal peduncle flanges are high and long, usually extending to near anal fin base, and also extending along outer rays onto caudal fin; caudal fin length usually just shorter than the caudal peduncle length; pyloric caecae usually absent; anal fin origin usually under 0.66 distance posteriorly along dorsal fin base; no black bars along lateral line (Ref. 8815).
Biology:  A freshwater fish that is unable to undertake diadromous migrations. It is recorded from a cool, small (0.5-1.5 m), shallow (0.1-0.5 m), clear and slow-flowing, partly shaded freshwater creek in a forested catchment. The substrate consisted mainly of cobbles, with some gravel, bedrock and sand, and the instream cover was provided mostly by rock, also by small amounts of undercut banks, timber debris and vegetation overhang. Recorded at densities of 0.01-0.9 fish/m2 and collected with the native species Broadfinned Galaxias, Shortfinned Eel, Central Highlands Spiny Crayfish, Gippsland Spiny Crayfish and Common Freshwater Shrimp. An individual was recorded with a short, thin, white worm (probably nematode), coiled and pointed at both ends, from amongst fat deposits around the stomach in the body cavity (Ref. 98815).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 14 February 2019 (A3ce; B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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