Little galaxias

📖 Overview

Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; Occurs in swamps, wetlands, shallow lakes, billabongs, small creeks and artificial earthen drains at low elevation (mean 100 m above sea level, typically 22-176 m above sea level). Inhabits mostly shallow areas (mean maximum depth 1.1 m, typically 0.5-2.0 m), with still to low water velocities (or often backwaters in faster flowing conditions) and partial shading (mean 27 %, typically 5-50 % surface cover). Occasionally found in inland with slightly saline waters. Water quality measurements at the time of collection indicate this species can thrive in a broad range of conditions: water temperatures 5.2-26.9 °C; dissolved oxygen levels of 20-263 % saturation; pH of 5.3-9.3; water electrical conductivity of 94-13,620 μS/cm and turbidity of 1-96 NTU . Usually collected together with other native fish species, particularly Nannoperca australis (65 % frequency), Galaxias maculatus (12 % frequency), and burrowing crayfish (e.g. Engaeus spp., Geocharax spp.) (18 % frequency). Often found with introduced fish species Gambusia holbrooki .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 8; Anal soft rays: 7 - 10; Vertebrae: 34 - 38. Galaxiella toourtkoourt can be diagnosed from other congeners by following characters: caudal fin rays usually 13 (12-15); anal fin rays usually 8 (7-10); pectoral fin rays usually 12 (8-13); usually 36 (34-38) vertebrae; and 7 laterosensory pores in the preopercular-supramaxillary series. Adults very small (usually 2.06-3.06 cm SL in females; 1.67-2.40 cm SL in males); short caudal peduncle usually 19.6-21.9 % SL (17.2-23.8 % SL in females; 17.9-24.4 % SL in males); origin of dorsal fin more or less in line with anal fin (particularly females) with horizontal distance between dorsal fin and anal fin origins usually 0.0-2.7 % SL (2.5-2.8 in females; 2.6-3.9 in males). Adults possess three longitudinal black stripes (easier to discern in adult males) and reduced markings on ventral surface (typically two to three black blotches at isthmus) .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Little galaxias is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; demersal; pH range: 5.3 - 9.3; non-migratory. Tropical; 5°C - 27°C west to the Cortina Lakes, near the Coorong, South Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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