Galaxias gollumoides
| Galaxias gollumoides | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Galaxias gollumoides | ||||||||||||
| McDowall & Chadderton , 1999 |
Galaxias gollumoides is a galaxy- belonging fish found in southern New Zealand . The species was first described in 1999 and is named after Gollum from The Lord of the Rings .
features
Galaxias gollumoides is a stocky galaxy with a somewhat flattened trunk on the side and a rather long and thick tail. Adults usually reach a maximum total length of 8 cm, some specimens 10 cm. The head is moderately long with a short snout, the moderately large mouth extends below the center of the eye. The eyes are large and set high on the head.
Way of life
Galaxias gollumoides lives in fresh water. Its distribution is limited to the south of the New Zealand South Island and Stewart Island . In the distribution area it can be found from sea level to 1100 m. The species is one of the non-migrating galaxies and spends its entire life cycle in fresh water.
Galaxias gollumoides feeds mainly on stoneflies and mayflies.
Reproduction takes place (in the spring of the southern hemisphere) from late August to October. The spawning behavior differs according to the habitat. In rivers, the 2 mm eggs are deposited in small caves under stones or rocks. In marshland the eggs are laid on aquatic plants.
Danger
The range of the species is highly fragmented and the population is declining , with the exception of two small Stewart Island populations. Galaxias gollumoides is mainly threatened by changes in its habitats, mainly by river straightening . Other threats are introduced predatory trout and the entry of sediments and nutrients through the intensification of dairy farming. The IUCN classifies the species as Critically Endangered (CR).
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Robert M. McDowall, William Chadderton: Galaxias gollumoides (Teleostei: Galaxiidae), a new fish species from Stewart Island, with notes on other non ‐ migratory freshwater fishes present on the island. In: Journal- Royal Society of New Zealand. 29, 1999, pp. 77-88. ( Online )
- ↑ a b Galaxias gollumoides in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018-2. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
Web links
- Gollum Galaxias | NIWA Natinonal Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, accessed January 15, 2019
- Gollum galaxias: Non-migratory galaxiids Department of Conservation, accessed January 15, 2019
- Galaxias gollumoides from FishBase , accessed January 15, 2019