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, 1996

The flathead galaxias, "Galaxias depressiceps", is a galaxiid of the genus "Galaxias", found primarily in the Taieri River catchment in Otago, 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, the anal fin a little further back. The caudal fin is large and square. Like all galaxiids it lacks scales and has a thick, leathery skin covered with mucus.

Flathead galaxias have 16 caudal fin rays compared to 15 and 14, respectively, in Eldons galaxias and dusky 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 the whitebait catch.

References

*
* [http://www.niwascience.co.nz/rc/freshwater/fishatlas/species/flathead_galaxias NIWA June 2006]