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Common Jollytail
Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns, 1842)
The Common Jollytail can be recognised by a combination of characters that include an elongate body, dorsal and anal fins located opposite each other at the posterior of the body and a forked tail. Its colouration ranges from green to amber, with a variable covering of spots and blotches.
Adults live in low-elevation streams. They migrate downstream to spawn during new or full moons, mostly in Autumn. Thousands of small eggs are laid in vegetation on the margins of estuaries at spring tides, and often spend up to two weeks out of water until the next spring tide. The larvae leave the estuary and spend 5 to 6 months at sea as juveniles before returning to freshwater.
The Common Jollytail is very widespread. It is found in Australia, New Zealand, Patagonian South America and the Falkland Islands.
In Australia it is known from coastal streams in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, eastern South Australia, and from parts of southern Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
- McDowall, R.M & W. Fulton in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
- McDowall, R.M & R.S. Frankenburg. 1981. The Galaxiid Fishes of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum. 33(10): 443-605.
- Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.
