Alpine galaxias
| Alpine galaxias | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Galaxiiformes |
| Family: | Galaxiidae |
| Genus: | Galaxias |
| Species: | G. paucispondylus |
| Binomial name | |
| Galaxias paucispondylus Stokell, 1938 | |
_-_map.svg.png) | |
| Approximate known distribution of the alpine river galaxias on a map of the South Island | |
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 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