Pedder galaxias

Taxobox
name = Pedder galaxias
status = EW
status_system = EPBC
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Osmeriformes
familia = Galaxiidae
genus = "Galaxias"
species = "G. pedderensis"
binomial = "Galaxias pedderensis"
binomial_authority = Frankenberg, 1968

Pedder galaxias, "Galaxias pedderensis", is a critically endangered Australian freshwater fish. It is considered to be extinct in the wild and was originally found only in Lake Pedder in Tasmania.

Range

Originally recorded only in Lake Pedder and inflowing streams, after the construction of the Huon-Serpentine dam in 1972 (the "new" Lake Pedder), its range expanded initially into Lake Gordon and Wedge River. However, by 1980 it had become very rare and no new specimens have been captured in the wild since 1996. Introduced trout are implicated as a major factor in the decline of this species.

Description

A small greenish-brown fish, off-white to silvery belly, a profuse irregular and highly variable pattern of alternating off-white and brownish contrasting bands extending into the base of the fins and breaking up into fine spots on the lowerr part of the sides. Length to 160 mm.

Habitat

Before the construction of the new lake, this species preferred Lake Pedder itself which was quite shallow surrounded by white sandy beaches and small rooted aquatic vegetation as well as in swamps and low velocity waters with abundant instream organic debris and overhanging terrestrial vegetation.

Diet consists of small invertebrates, particularly arthropods and aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans and terretrial insects especially beetles, flies, cicadas etc.

Conservation status

*Critically endangered on IUCN Red List (last assessed in 1996).
*Extinct in the wild status for the EPBC Act since 2005.

Reproduction

Females are larger than males. Male genital papilla narrow, whereas female are broad and rounded, most noticeable during breeding season. 150 to 1,200 eggs averaging 1.9 mm to 2.3 mm in diameter when water hardened. Spawning reported to occur in spring (October) at water temperatures of 6.7 to 7.5°C.

References

* [http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=26169 Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage (2006). "Galaxias pedderensis" in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.]
* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/8808/all IUCN Red List]
* [http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=6204&genusname=Galaxias&speciesname=pedderensis Fishbase]

External links

* [http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-54H7R8?open Tasmanian Government DPIWE Info Page]