Pencil galaxias
| Pencil galaxias | |
|---|---|
| A lowland longjaw galaxias (G. cobitinis), found in the Kauru River. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Galaxiiformes |
| Family: | Galaxiidae |
| Subfamily: | Galaxiinae |
| Genus: | Galaxias G. Cuvier, 1816 |
Pencil galaxias are a group of small galaxias species found in New Zealand. Pencil galaxias are so-called due to their thin pencil-shaped bodies; they have small fins with long, slender caudal peduncles. Species vary in lengths between 7–11 cm (2.8–4.3 in) long.[1][2]
These species are non-diadromous, spending most of their lives in mainly sub-alpine waterways.[1]
Species
Five species of pencil galaxias have been formally described:[3][1]
- Galaxias cobitinis – Lowland longjaw galaxias
- Galaxias divergens – Dwarf galaxias
- Galaxias macronasus – Bignose galaxias
- Galaxias paucispondylus – Alpine galaxias
- Galaxias prognathus – Longjawed galaxias
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Bignose galaxias | Earth Sciences New Zealand | NIWA". NIWA. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ^ McDowall, Bob. "More galaxiids | Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Te Ara. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ^ Bowie, S.; Pham, L.; Dunn, N.; Allibone, R.; Crow, S, eds. (2014). Freshwater fish taxonomic workshop focussing on New Zealand non-migratory galaxias taxonomic issues. Proceedings of a workshop, Dunedin 14th May 2013 (PDF). Department of Conservation. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2026.