The Galaxiidae family is the largest family of freshwater fishes in New Zealand; there are about 26 species present here which have been divided into two genera, the galaxiids (Galaxias spp.) and the mudfish (Neochanna spp.).
Galaxiidae occur throughout the southern hemisphere - in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina.
It is thought that the non-diadromous species of Galaxiidae have evolved from the diadromous species, probably after geological events caused them to become land-locked.
A new teleost fish, Stompooria rogersmithi, is described from deposits of a Late Cretaceous crater lake in the Karoo, South Africa.
Stompooria is excluded from Retropinnidae in having the parhypural and first hypural unfused (character 66), as well as characters noted by McDowall (1969) separating galaxiids and retropinnids such as five hypurals, dorsal fin over anal fin, and (apparent) absence of palatine teeth, although Stompooria has 9+9 principal caudal rays, as in retropinnids.
Those character states that indicate its more plesiomorphic status include: unmodified pectoral radials, presence of scales, normal neural spine of the first preural vertebra, two epurals, relatively few vertebrae, and the dorsal and anal fins originating comparatively forward, apparently as a result of its few precaudal vertebrae.
Population dynamics of Philureter trigoniopsis (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalinae) from urinary organs of Galaxias maculatus (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) in a cold temperate Andean Patagonian lake (Argentina).
(Myxozoa) from gall bladder of Galaxias maculatus (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) in Patagonia (Argentina).
Infection patterns of Tylodelphys barilochensis and T. crubensis (Trematoda: Diplostomatidae) metacercariae in Galaxias maculatus (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) from two Patagonian lakes and observations on their geographical distribution in the southern Andean region, Argentina.
As its name implies, the giant kokopu is the largest member of the Galaxiidae family.
The profusion of golden lines, spots, crescents, and rings on the bodies of larger fish are very distinctive, although small specimens may be difficult to distinguish from banded kokopu,.
The giant kokopu was the first Galaxiidae to be discovered, and it was its colour pattern that led to the generic name Galaxias, referring to the profusion of stars in the galaxy.
Galaxias vulgaris(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-01)
The ecology of Galaxias vulgaris (Pisces: Salmoniformes: Galaxiidae) in the River Glentui, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Impacts of aquaculture: biodiversity and alien species: In New Zealand the common river galaxias (Galaxias vulgaris) is displaced by Chinook salmon predation and competition, but also by disturbing stream bottom...
Journal of Biogeography Issue: GP Wallis, KF Judge, J. Bland, JM Waters and TM Berra: Genetic diversity in New Zealand Galaxias vulgaris sensu lato (Teleostei: Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae): a...
Reference Citation: Biology of Galaxiella munda McDowall (Teleostei: Galaxiidae), including a comparison of the reproductive strategies of this and three other local species..
Based on a study of intermuscular bones, Patterson and Johnson (1995) supported Begle''s (1991) placement of Lepidogalaxias among galaxioid osmeroids as the sister group of salangids + galaxiids.
Johnson and Patterson (1995) severely criticised Begle''s work and stated that Lepidogalaxias and Lovettia are sister groups within the Galaxiidae.
Mees, G. Description of a new fish of the family Galaxiidae from Western Australia.
Gill, H.S. and Morgan, D.L. Ontogenetic changes in the diet of Galaxiella nigrostriata (Shipway, 1953) (Galaxiidae) and Lepidogalaxias salamandroides Mees, 1961 (Lepidogalaxiidae).
Gill, H.S. and Neira, F.J. Galaxiidae (Galaxiinae): Southern galaxias.
Morgan, D.L. Distribution and biology of Galaxias truttaceus (Galaxiidae) in south-western Australia, including first evidence of parasitism of fishes in Western Australia by Ligula intestinalis.
FAMILIES - Detail(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-01)
The dorsal fin is situated posteriorly and more or less above the anal fin.
Nelson (1994) listed three subfamilies of the Galaxiidae: Lovettiinae, Aplochitoninae, and Galaxiinae.
The subfamily Aplochitoninae (previously considered a separate family) is composed of two species of Aplochiton from southern South America (McDowall 1971a).
These waterways carry a highly endemic fish fauna of low diversity (36 indigenous species, 21 exotic species).
The indigenous fauna is dominated by Galaxiidae (20 species), whereas the most diverse exotic groups are Salmonidae and Cyprinidae (7 species of each).
The steep topography the country means that the rivers and streams tend to be swiftly flowing, with coarse gravel and cobble substrates of hard rock, and a high proportion of the indigenous species live within these substrates.
Allibone, R.M. and Wallis, G.P. Genetic variation and diadromy in some native New Zealand galaxiids (Teleostei: Galaxiidae).
Emerson, B.C. and Wallis, G.P. Phylogenetic relationships of the Prodontria (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae; subfamily Melolonthinae), derived from sequence variation in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene.
McDowall, R.M. and Wallis, G.P. Description and redescription of Galaxias species (Teleostei: Galaxiidae) from Otago and Southland.
