- Flathead galaxias (New Zealand)
Taxobox
name = Flathead galaxias
regnum =Animalia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Actinopterygii
ordo =Osmeriformes
familia =Galaxiidae
subfamilia =Galaxiinae
genus = "Galaxias "
species = "G. depressiceps"
binomial = "Galaxias depressiceps"
binomial_authority = McDowall & Wallis, 1996The flathead galaxias, "Galaxias depressiceps", is a
galaxiid of thegenus "Galaxias ", found primarily in theTaieri River catchment inOtago ,New Zealand . It grows to a length of up to 17 cm.This species should not be confused with the Australian fish with the same common name: "Galaxias rostratus".
Flathead galaxias are speckled olive-green over a light brown base, often also with a golden stripe down the centre of the back to the
dorsal fin , and a golden belly. The single dorsal fin is rounded, and set back two thirds of the body length, theanal fin a little further back. Thecaudal fin is large and square. Like all galaxiids it lacks scales and has a thick, leathery skin covered withmucus .Flathead galaxias have 16
caudal fin rays compared to 15 and 14, respectively, inEldons galaxias anddusky galaxias .The preferred habitat for this species is cobble/boulder streams in tussock grasslands, and most populations occur above large waterfalls. Flathead galaxias are found at altitudes of 140-1,130 m in Otago, and they can live in steep mountain streams.
They are non-
diadromous and therefore do not have a marine phase and are not part of thewhitebait catch.References
*
* [http://www.niwascience.co.nz/rc/freshwater/fishatlas/species/flathead_galaxias NIWA June 2006]
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