New Zealand Freshwater Fish

Apart from the many marine fish found around its coasts, New Zealand has 35 native fish species that inhabit freshwater. About half of these spend some of their life in the sea. The conservation status of many New Zealand freshwater fish species is uncertain but some, such as Mudfish (Family Galaxiidae), are threatened with extinction.

Galaxias is the common (genus) name for a large group of relatively small freshwater fish in the Family Galaxiidae. Some Galaxias species include a marine stage in their life cycle where their larvae are washed out to sea. There they develop before returning to rivers as juveniles. Whitebait are the juvenile fish of five native Galaxias species: the Banded Kokopu, Giant Kokopu, Inanga, Koaro and Shortjaw (Short-jawed) Kokopu.

In all the Bully species (Family Eleotridae) the males establish and defend territories during the breeding season, which accounts for their more dramatic colouration compared to the females. After the female lays her eggs in a primitive nest the male guards it, fanning the eggs to keep them oxygenated.