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💧 Freshwater Endangered 🌡️ Temperate

Salamanderfish

Lepidogalaxias salamandroides Mees, 1961
Max Length
7.4 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.1
Depth
-
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
27.00/100
Typical Length
4 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Facultative air-breathing ; Occurs in shallow streams, drains and temporary pools in generally acidic water around pH 4. Water typically is tea-coloured . Feeds mainly on aquatic insect larvae and small crustaceans. Spawn: late winter, early spring; internal fertilization (male with modified anal fin); female laying about 100 eggs. Rapid growth of hatchlings (reaching 2.5 cm by summer). Life cycle may be limited to 12 months. Young fish aestivates in pear-shaped burrow in mud until water returns in autumn. They have no accessory respiratory structures and cannot withstand low oxygen situations . About 25-30% of the population attains sexual maturity at the end of the first year. The breeding season coincides with heavy rains between late May and August. The lifespan typically lasts three years, but some fish persist for up to five years .

Scientific Name
Lepidogalaxias salamandroides
Authority
Mees, 1961
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Temperate
IUCN Status
EN
Max Length
7.4 cm
Trophic Level
3.1
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
27.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Water Temp
17–26 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Salamanderfish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Salamanderfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

Fertilization
Internal
Size at Maturity
4.3cm TL

Internal fertilization is facilitated by the modified anal fin of the male. Female deposits about 100 eggs in the shallows.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 3.8 - 4.5; dH range: 5 - ?; non-migratory. Temperate; 17°C - 26°C ; 34°S - 35°S endemic to Western Australia in seasonal pools between the Blackwood and Kent rivers.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.1±0.4
Food Items

aquatic insect larvae and small crustaceans

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00389 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
7.4cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
17–26°C
pH Range
3.8–4.5
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Endangered
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
27.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.1
Predator
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Mees, 1961

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Dwarf Pencilfish · Long-finned Galaxias · Salamanderfish · Salmanderfish · Scaled Galaxias · Shannon Mudminnow · mud minnow
🇩🇪German Salamanderfisch
🇫🇮Finnish Salamanterikuore
🇯🇵Japanese サラマンダーフィッシュ
🌍LIT Salamandriniai galaksijai
🇳🇱Dutch Salamandervisje
🇵🇱Polish Salamandrowiec
🇷🇺Russian Лепидогалаксия саламандровая
🇨🇳Chinese 螈魚 · 鱗南乳魚

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 6 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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