| Family: |
Galaxiidae (Galaxiids), subfamily: Galaxiinae |
| Max. size: |
19 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; marine, catadromous |
| Distribution: |
Oceania: Australia (including Tasmania), Lord Howe Island, New Zealand and the Chatham Islands. South America: Ranges from along the Chilean side of the Andes near Valparaiso to the southern extremity of the island chain southeast of Tierra del Fuego. Also on the eastern side of the Andes in Argentina in isolated lakes (Meliquina, Traful, Nahuel Huapi, Gutierrez, and Pellegrini) which drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the Negro River. It occurs on Falkland Islands. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-17 |
| Biology: |
Occur in a wide variety of habitat, but mostly in still or slow-flowing waters, mainly in streams, rivers and lakes within a short distance of the sea. Can survive in salinities up to 50 ppt. Feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects, and crustaceans. Adults typically migrate downstream into estuaries during high spring tides in autumn to spawn on fringing vegetation. Spawning does not occur beyond the river estuaries, making this species 'only marginally catadromous' (Ref. 46888). Many perish after spawning but some survive another year. Eggs develop out of water for two weeks and hatch upon the arrival of the next spring tide. Newly hatched larvae spend their first 5-6 months at sea before returning to fresh shoals of whitebait during spring. An important component of whitebait fisheries throughout the Southern Hemisphere (Ref. 44894). Utilized fresh and eaten fried (Ref. 9988, 44894). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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