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Lepidogalaxiiformes (Salamanderfishes) >
Lepidogalaxiidae (Salamanderfishes)
Etymology: Lepidogalaxias: Greek,lepis, lepidos = scale + Greek, galaxias, ou = a kind of fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 3.8 - 4.5; dH range: 5 - ?; non-migratory. Temperate; 17°C - 26°C (Ref. 36498); 34°S - 35°S
Oceania: endemic to Western Australia in seasonal pools between the Blackwood and Kent rivers.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 4.3 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); 6.7 cm TL (female); common length : 4.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259)
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in shallow streams, drains and temporary pools in generally acidic water around pH 4. Water typically is tea-coloured (Ref. 44894). 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 (Ref. 36499). 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 (Ref. 44894).
Internal fertilization is facilitated by the modified anal fin of the male. Female deposits about 100 eggs in the shallows.
Berra, T.M. and G.R. Allen, 1991. Population structure and development of Lepidogalaxias salamandroides (Pisces: Salmoniformes) from western Australia. Copeia 1991(3):845-850. (Ref. 36498)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Endangered (EN) (B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)); Date assessed: 09 January 2019
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on diet studies.
Generation time: 1.7 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 2
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec = 37).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100).
