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Salamanderfish
Lepidogalaxias salamandroides Mees, 1961
Above and below: A Salamanderfish caught at a depth of 1 m, Dentrecasteaux Point, Western Australia, October 1976. Photo: D. Hoese © Australian Museum. View larger image.
The Salamanderfish is an elongate species with a cylindrical body and reddish eyes. It is greenish-brown above and pale below. It has dark blotches and silver speckles on the sides of the body.
It grows to about 7 cm in length. Males are smaller than females.
This species is found in freshwater streams and pools in sandy peat flat areas. These waters are usually darkly tannin stained and often very acidic (pH 3.0-6.5). When pools start to dry up in summer, the fish constructs a small burrow in which it aestivates until heavy rains fall in winter.
The Salamanderfish cannot move its eyes. Instead it has an unusually flexible neck, that allows the head to be moved independently of the body.
It is endemic to Australia, occurring in a restricted area of Western Australia between the Albany District and Scott River.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
The Salamanderfish is the only species in the family Lepidogalaxiidae.
Related links
- View the Australian freshwater fishes list
- View the Tree of Life Salamanderfish page
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
- Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes.
Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.
