Cape galaxias

Taxobox
name = Cape galaxias
status = NT
status_system = iucn2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Osmeriformes
familia = Galaxiidae
subfamilia = Galaxiinae
genus = "Galaxias"
species = "G. zebratus"
binomial = "Galaxias zebratus"
binomial_authority = (Castelnau, 1861)

The Cape galaxias, "Galaxias zebratus", is a freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae, found in South Africa in coastal streams and rivers from the Keurbooms on the south coast to the Clanwilliam Olifants River system on the west coast.

The name "zebratus" is due to its striping which varies from one population to the next. Members of the family Galaxiidae are elongate, tubular, scaleless fishes which are related to the salmoniformes. The Cape galaxias from the Krom River have a cryptic coloration, pale brown with slight vertical barring and transparent, with red gills, heart and vertebral column visible. They are small fish rarely being above 60 mm in length in this population.

The Cape galaxias occurs mostly in coastal and lowland areas but may penetrate some distance inland, and is widespread in lakes and rivers. It prefers gentle currents within the shelter of banks near the head of pools. Small but extremely hardy, it is known to tolerate a wide range of water and temperature conditions. Its small size and cryptic color enable it to avoid predators. Feeds on small drifting invertebrates.

Reproduction

The Cape galaxias have demersal, relatively large eggs numbering about 30 to 40, rarely exceeding 50. The fish mature at 38 to 40 mm and the maximum length varies with the locality.

References

*
* [http://www.ru.ac.za/affiliates/am/galaxias.html Albany Museum]