Gollum galaxias

Taxobox
name = Gollum galaxias
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Osmeriformes
familia = Galaxiidae
subfamilia = Galaxiinae
genus = "Galaxias"
species = "G. gollumoides"
binomial = "Galaxias gollumoides"
binomial_authority = McDowall & Chadderton, 1999

The Gollum galaxias, "Galaxias gollumoides", is a galaxiid of the genus "Galaxias", found only in New Zealand, on Stewart Island, throughout the Catlins and Southland, and in the Nevis River. It grows to a length of up to 15 cm.

Gollum galaxias are speckled brown over a light golden brown base, forming indistinct vertical bars. 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 with the upper lobe a little longer than the lower. Like all galaxiids it lacks scales and has a thick, leathery skin covered with mucus.

Gollum galaxias have 6 pelvic fin rays whereas most of the other galaxiids usually have 7. The unusual name refers to its similarity to Gollum, a character in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings", because the fish was first found in a swamp and has relatively large eyes.

They are non-diadromous and therefore do not have a marine phase and are not part of the whitebait catch.

References

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