| Climbing Galaxias |
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| galaxiidae | |
| endemic freshwater fish of new zealand | |
| freshwater fish of australia | |
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OTHER COMMON NAMES Koaro (by the Māori s in New Zealand ); Short-finned Galaxias; Broad-finned Galaxias; Cox's Mountain Galaxias; and, Pieman Galaxias. LIFESTYLE These fish live a basically benthic lifestyle and in most respects behave like the Common Galaxias , a closely related galaxiid. A major distinguishing feature of the Climbing galaxias is its ability to climb up very steep surfaces such as waterfalls, wet rocks and the sluices of hydro dams. Even juveniles of the species are capable of climbing up and over the sides of buckets after being trapped in whitebait nets. The Climbing galaxias have special features which enhance their climbing abilities, such as the downward orientation of their fins. The strong, backward-facing ridges on the front part of their fins possibly contribute to this ability. LIFECYCLE Climbing galaxias' eggs are believed to be washed downstream to the sea where the young live for about 6 months before returning to freshwater as part of the large mixed species schools known as Whitebait . They were once part of a commercial whitebait fishery in Tasmania, but now fishing for them has been restricted to recreational anglers with significant restrictions on allowable tackle and methods. Land-locked populations have a similar lifestyle except that the young spend the first part of their life in inland lakes and backwaters etc. DIET These fish are generalised carnivores of invertebrates including aquatic and terrestrial insects, mayfly, caddis larvae and amphipods. DISTRIBUTION Their distribution extends to coastal streams in south-eastern Australia from Adelaide and Kangaroo Island in South Australia , through coastal Victoria including Wilson's Promontory , Tasmania , Flinders & King Island s and up the New South Wales coast to around Sydney , as well as New Zealand and nearby islands. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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