Lowland longjaw galaxias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lowland longjaw galaxias |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
 Nationally Critical (NZ TCS) |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Galaxias
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| Species: |
cobitinis
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The lowland longjaw galaxias (Galaxias cobitinis) is a small freshwater fish. It belongs to a family of fish called galaxiids. This special fish lives only in the South Island of New Zealand.
You can find it in the Kauru River, which flows into the Kakanui River in north Otago. It also lives in parts of the upper Waitaki area. This fish is quite small, growing up to about 7 centimeters long.
What Does It Look Like?
The lowland longjaw galaxias has a long, thin body. Its skin is thick and leathery, and it's covered in mucus. Unlike many fish, it does not have any scales.
Its body is covered with spots and faint bands. These marks come in different shades of brown and grey. It has one dorsal fin (on its back) and one anal fin (on its belly). These fins are located about two-thirds of the way along its body. A unique feature is its lower jaw, which sticks out further than its upper jaw.
Why Is It Special?
This fish is very unique because it is only found in a few places in New Zealand. It's an important part of the freshwater ecosystems there.
Conservation Status
The lowland longjaw galaxias is in serious trouble. In 2018, the Department of Conservation said it was "Nationally Critical." This is the highest threat level in the New Zealand Threat Classification System.
This means there are very few of these fish left. Experts believe there are fewer than 250 adult fish in the wild. The population also changes a lot, sometimes having very few fish. Because of this, it needs a lot of help to survive. It lives in only one main area, making it very vulnerable.
