Galaxiidae

Small fish live in cool rivers. They live in many lands. Most live in Australia or New Zealand. Some live in South America too.

Many of these fish start in a river. Then they wash out to the ocean. Later, they swim back to the river.

Some big fish are a problem. New fish like trout eat them. These big fish also eat their food.

People catch small fish in the river. They call them whitebait. People think they are very tasty.

These little fish are very special.

Galaxiids are a group of mostly small fish. They live in cool fresh water. Most live in Australia or New Zealand. Some live in South America and South Africa too.

Many of these fish have a special way of living. They are called amphidromous. This means they move between fresh and salt water. The babies hatch in a river. Then they wash down to the ocean. Later, they swim back to rivers as young fish. People catch these young fish and call them whitebait.

Some galaxiids face big problems. New fish like trout were brought to their homes. These trout eat the galaxiids. They also eat the same food. This can cause local fish to die out.

Scientists think these fish are very old. Long ago, a land bridge in Antarctica may have helped them spread. This bridge connected Australia and South America. It let different kinds of fish move between lands. There are about 50 species in this family today.

Galaxiids are a family of mostly small fish. They live in the cool fresh waters of the Southern Hemisphere. Most of these fish live in Southern Australia or New Zealand. You can also find them in South Africa and South America. Some live on Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia too. One type is the common galaxias. It is likely the most widely spread freshwater fish in the Southern Hemisphere.

Many galaxiids have a very interesting way of living. This way of life is called amphidromous. This means they move between fresh water and the salty ocean. First, the tiny larvae hatch in a river. Then, they are washed downstream into the ocean. Later, they return to the rivers as juveniles to grow up. People catch these young fish and call them whitebait.

Scientists study the history of these fish to learn about the past. Their ancestors may have split from other fish during the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. The oldest fossils found are from the Miocene period in New Zealand. In 1998, a scientist named Anderson described a possible fossil from South Africa. This fossil was named Stompooria. Some experts still argue about whether it was truly a galaxiid.

There are about 50 different species in the Galaxiidae family. They are grouped into seven different genera. For example, the genus Galaxias has 34 different species. In Tasmania, scientists have found seventeen different species. Some species, like the spotted galaxias, are found in Australia. Other species live in the mountains or in high-altitude lakes.

These fish face a hard job today because of new neighbors. People brought exotic fish like trout to many different lands. These trout prey on galaxiids and eat their food. This has caused some galaxiid groups to disappear from certain places. In the past, an Antarctic land bridge might have helped them move. This bridge connected Australia and South America with water.

The Galaxiidae are a family of mostly small freshwater fish. They are primarily found in the Southern Hemisphere. Most species inhabit Southern Australia or New Zealand. However, some live in South Africa and South America. You can also find them on Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, and the Falkland Islands. One specific species, the common galaxias (Galaxias maculatus), is very important. It is likely the most widely distributed natural freshwater fish in the Southern Hemisphere.

Many galaxiids follow a complex life cycle known as amphidromy. This process involves moving between fresh water and the ocean. First, the larvae hatch within a river or stream. These larvae are then washed downstream into the sea. Once in the ocean, they exist as part of the zooplankton. Later, they return to rivers as juveniles to finish their development. They eventually grow into full adults in the fresh water.

Scientists categorize the family into seven different genera. There are approximately 50 species within the Galaxiidae family. The largest group is the genus Galaxias, which contains 34 species. Other genera include Aplochiton, which has two species, and Lovettia, which has only one. The genus Neochanna includes six species, while Galaxiella and Paragalaxias each have four. The genus Brachygalaxias contains two species. There is also the disputed genus Stompooria from South Africa.

Evolutionary history suggests these fish have very ancient origins. Their ancestors likely diverged from neoteleosts around the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. While their origins are old, the earliest definitive fossils are from the Miocene of New Zealand. These fossils belong to the existing genus Galaxias. In 1998, Anderson described a possible Late Cretaceous fossil named Stompooria. Some researchers question this because Stompooria has scales. Others suggest it might be a sister group to salmoniforms.

Geography plays a major role in how these fish evolved. Many genera show unusual relationships between distant continents. For example, the Australian genus Lovettia is closely related to the South American Aplochiton. Scientists believe an Antarctic land bridge influenced this pattern. This bridge provided a shallow marine and fresh water connection. It allowed different taxa to disperse between Australia and South America.

Today, many galaxiid species face serious threats from exotic species. Humans have introduced salmonids, such as trout, to many different land masses. These trout prey upon galaxiids and compete with them for food. This has led to many localized extinctions in various places. In Australia, some species like the barred galaxias are considered threatened. In New Zealand, trout have changed the dominance of native fish.

Humans also interact with galaxiids through fishing. In some regions, the juveniles are caught as whitebait. These young fish are considered a valued delicacy. In New Zealand, exploitation of adults may be banned. This protection often applies unless the fish is for indigenous tribes. In Australia, some anglers ignore galaxiids because they are small. However, some species are large enough to be caught with fly-fishing tackle.