Teleostei (teleosts) >
Galaxiiformes (Southern smelts) >
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids) > Galaxiinae
Etymology: Galaxias: Greek, galaxias, ou = a kind of fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Ogilby.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate; 9°C - 26°C (Ref. 33843); 32°S - 35°S
Oceania: endemic to southwestern Western Australia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 7.3, range 6 - 10 cm
Max length : 19.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); common length : 9.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259); max. reported age: 5 years (Ref. 35368)
Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274); Found in rocky pools at the base of rapids and waterfalls. Occur around submerged vegetation along the edges of pools or slow-flowing water and sometimes in lakes and ponds (Ref. 6896, 33843). Water is usually clear and fresh or darkly tannin-stained and slightly acidic. Tolerate brackish conditions found in many salt-affected rivers of the south-west. A fast swimming species, forming moderately-sized shoals just above the bottom. With the onset of winter rains, these fish move into small tributaries and feeder streams of rivers and wetlands to spawn among flooded vegetation. Sexual maturity is reached the following autumn (Ref. 44894). Feed mainly on insects and small crustaceans. Considered as the most abundant freshwater fish species in southwestern Western Australia (Ref. 6896, 33843, 44894).
Allen, G.R., 1989. Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. (Ref. 5259)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00490 (0.00206 - 0.01165), b=3.12 (2.91 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.41 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1; tmax=5; Fec=206;).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (19 of 100).