Alpine galaxias

The alpine river galaxias (Galaxias paucispondylus) is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, found only in mid to high elevation streams flowing from the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It grows to a length of up to 11 cm.

Alpine galaxias
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Galaxiiformes
Family:	Galaxiidae
Genus:	Galaxias
Species:	G. paucispondylus
Binomial name
Galaxias paucispondylus Stokell, 1938
Approximate known distribution of the alpine river galaxias on a map of the South Island

Alpine galaxias are speckled olive-green over a light brown base. The single large 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 slightly forked. Like all galaxiids it lacks scales and has a thick, leathery skin covered with mucus.

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

References

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Galaxias paucispondylus". FishBase. March 2006 version.
• NIWA June 2006