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Teleostei (teleosts) > Galaxiiformes (Southern smelts) > Galaxiidae (Galaxiids) > Galaxiinae
Etymology: Galaxias: Greek, galaxias, ou = a kind of fish (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Robert Mackenzie Johnston (1843–1918) was a scientist and statistician and, according to the galaxias etymology, was “…the father of Tasmanian ichthyology, who paid considerable attention to the local Galaxiidae. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 42°S - 43°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Oceania: known only in Clarence Lagoon and tributaries and the upper reaches of the Clarence River, which is part of the Derwent River system of Tasmania, Australia.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 14.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); common length : 7.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259); max. published weight: 20.00 g (Ref. 30189)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13; Vertebrae: 53 - 54. Scales completely absent (Ref. 30189). Dark brown dorsal surface, irregular dark brown bars and bands extending down sides, ventral surface yellow-cream in color (Ref. 30189).

Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274); Found in shelter of rocks and boulders in lacustrine habitats, also found in swamps and streams draining in and out of lakes (Ref. 44894). Adults occur in the rocky margin of Clarence Lagoon, its outlet stream and several tributaries that flow into the lake. Adults feed on benthic crustaceans while juveniles feed partly on planktonic crustaceans, and insects and their larvae (Ref. 30189, 44894). Very secretive species, darts for cover under boulders if disturbed. The entire life cycle (may live for up to four years) takes place in fresh water. Adults move into inlet streams to spawn in spring. The demersal eggs take about 2 months to hatch. Fry reside in open surface waters of the lake (Ref. 44894).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Oviparous. Spawn in spring (Ref. 30189).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Berra, Tim M. | Collaborators

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)

Endangered (EN) (B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv)); Date assessed: 11 February 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 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): 3.2 ±0.40 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; Fec=300).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).

Galaxias johnstoni Scott, 1936