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Mountain Galaxias
Galaxias olidus Günther, 1866
Above and below: A Mountain Galaxias from a small stream at "Devil's Pinch" near Guyra, New South Wales, February 2001. View larger image.
The Mountain Galaxias is a small freshwater species that is endemic to (only known from) Australia.
It has a small head, large mouth and short-based fleshy fins.
The colouration of this species is highly variable. It can be yellowish green to brown above, olive to silvery below, and have speckles, blotches and banding.
The Mountain Galaxias grows to 13.5 cm in length but is more commonly seen up to about 7cm.
This species eats a range of food items including insects (aquatic and terrestrial) crustaceans, molluscs, worms and spiders.
It lives in freshwater streams from the coast to 1800 m elevation.
The Mountain Galaxias occurs on both sides of the Great Dividing Range from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Climbing Galaxias fact sheet
- Common Jollytail fact sheet
- Mountain Galaxias climbing Dam wall
- View the Galaxid list
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.
- 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.
- Raadik, T. 2001. When is a Mountain Galaxias not a Mountain Galaxias? Fishes of Sahul. 15(4) (November-December).
