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💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🌡️ Temperate

Western galaxias

Galaxias occidentalis Ogilby, 1899
Max Length
19 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
5 yrs
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
-
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
19.00/100
Typical Length
9 cm
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; 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 . 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 . Feed mainly on insects and small crustaceans. Considered as the most abundant freshwater fish species in southwestern Western Australia .

Scientific Name
Galaxias occidentalis
Authority
Ogilby, 1899
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Temperate
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
19 cm
Lifespan
5 years
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
19.00/100
Water Temp
9–26 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 14; Vertebrae: 50 - 54. Adults have a flattened head and a flattened snout, and are olive-green dorsally and silver-white ventrally, with dark bars laterally. No scales.: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Western galaxias is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Western galaxias is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
7.3cm TL

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate; 9°C - 26°C ; 32°S - 35°S endemic to southwestern Western Australia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
3.3±0.41
Food Items

insects and small crustaceans

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.0049 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
19cm
Dorsal Rays
9
Anal Rays
13
Vertebrae
52

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
9–26°C
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
19.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Ogilby, 1899

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Western Galaxias · Western Jollytail · Western Minnow
🌍CES galaxie západoaustralská
🇵🇱Polish galaks zachodni
🇵🇹Portuguese Kokopu-tigre
🇷🇺Russian Западная галаксия
🇨🇳Chinese 西南南乳魚

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 11 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for Western galaxias ↗
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