Galaxias

Galaxias is the common name for a large group of relatively small freshwater fish (Family Galaxiidae). Galaxiids do not have scales; instead they have a thick, leathery skin covered with mucus. Many of the species only inhabit freshwater, specialising in high altitude upland streams, rivers and lakes. 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 juveniles of five native Galaxias species: the Banded Kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus), Giant Kokopu (Galaxias argenteus), Inanga (Galaxias maculatus), Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) and Shortjaw (or Short-jawed) Kokopu (Galaxias postvectis).

The Galaxias species that live only in fresh water are gravely threatened by exotic trout species, which prey heavily upon them and compete with them for food.

Picture Gallery 79 Images over 5 pages. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Banded Kokopu © Tony Eldon The Banded Kokopu, Galaxias fasciatus, is found only in New Zealand. It is one of the five fish species that occur in the whitebait runs that enter New Zealand rivers each spring. Adults are primarlily a coastal species, living in very small tributaries with an almost complete overhead canopy of vegetation. They feed mainly on invertebrates. Length up to 25cm.