Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Galaxiiformes (Southern smelts) >
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids) > Galaxiinae
Etymology: Galaxias: Greek, galaxias, ou = a kind of fish (Ref. 45335); ornatus: Name from Latin 'ornatus' meaning decorated or adorned, most probably referring to the often bold
and ornate colour pattern exhibited in this species.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 1 m (Ref. 98815). Subtropical
Oceania: Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.0 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 98815); max. published weight: 12.00 g (Ref. 98815)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 12; Anal soft rays: 9 - 14; Vertebrae: 49 - 55. This species is one of the least morphologically specialised species in the Galaxias olidus complex, differing only slightly from the typical ‘olidus’ morphology, but it can be distinguished from all other species within the complex by the following set of characters (and careful comparison with the description of the other species): interorbital is usually convex, very wide (35.5-53.8 % HL); nostrils of moderate length, non-visible from ventral view; dorsal midline is usually flattened anteriorly from above the pelvic fin bases; caudal peduncle flanges are long, almost reaching anal fin base; length of caudal fin about same as that of caudal peduncle; anal fin origin usually under 0.63 distance posteriorly along the dorsal fin base; pyloric caecae 1-2 moderately long (2.3 % SL) and very occasionally absent; gill rakers are short to moderately long, stout and sharply pointed; no distinct black bars along lateral line (Ref. 98815).
Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274); A freshwater fish that is unable to undertake diadromous migrations. Recorded from cool, well-shaded and clear-flowing, small upland creeks and moist gullies along mountain ranges (e.g. Dandenong Ranges, GDR, Otway Ranges), larger, forested foothill streams to larger rivers at lower elevation. The streams occupied usually range in size from 0.5-8.0 m in width (up to 20 m), with 0.05-0.30 m average depth, with pools 0.3 to > 1.2 m in depth, with a complex instream substrate ranging from clay and sand to bedrock, boulder and cobble. Instream cover usually relatively plentiful, consisting of rock, large and small timber debris, aquatic vegetation, and vegetation and bank overhang. It is also known from drier river systems, including ephemeral tributaries, to the north-west and west of Melbourne (e.g. Plenty, Maribyrnong, and Werribee rivers), where individuals are able to persist in small and large, isolated and sometimes stagnant pools. Also able to persist in small streams within upland catchments in the north-east of their range (e.g. upper Yarra River system) that are often covered by snow for varying periods of time during winter (Ref. 98815).
It is usually recorded at densities up to 04-1.5 fish/m2 , though can be very abundant in isolated pools (up to 3.0 fish/m2). Recorded in sympatry with Galaxias brevipinnis, Galaxias maculatus, Galaxias truttaceus, and historically possibly with Galaxiella pusilla and Neochanna cleaveri (Ref. 98815).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Raadik, T.A., 2014. Fifteen from one: a revision of the Galaxias olidus Günther, 1866 complex (Teleostei, Galaxiidae) in south-eastern Australia recognises three previously described taxa and describes 12 new species. Zootaxa 3898(1):001-198. (Ref. 98815)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [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): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
