Mountain Galaxias (species complex) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain galaxias |
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| Galaxias olidus | |
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Osmeriformes
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Galaxias
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The mountain galaxias is not just one type of fish! It's actually a group of very similar freshwater fish. These fish are found all over southeast Australia. They belong to a family of fish called galaxiids.
Meet the Mountain Galaxias Family
Scientists have recently discovered that the mountain galaxias is a "species complex." This means it's a group of many different species that look very much alike. It's like a family with many siblings who share similar traits.
There are fifteen known species within this complex. Three of these were already known before the recent studies. Here are some of the species in this interesting fish family:
- Galaxias aequipinnis, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias arcanus, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias brevissimus, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias fuscus, Mack, 1936
- Galaxias gunaikurnai, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias lanceolatus, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias longifundus, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias mcdowalli, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias mungadhan, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias olidus, Günther, 1866
- Galaxias oliros, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias ornatus, Castelnau, 1873
- Galaxias supremus, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias tantangara, Raadik, 2014
- Galaxias terenasus, Raadik, 2014
Where Do Mountain Galaxias Live?
Mountain galaxias fish live in a huge area of Australia. You can find them from southern Queensland all the way to the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. They are common in the Murray-Darling river system.
These fish also live in rivers along the eastern and southern coasts. Scientists are still learning how they spread to all these places. Some of their movement is due to natural events where rivers connect.
Many mountain galaxias species can even "climb" over natural barriers. They use special fins to help them move past obstacles like small waterfalls. This ability helps them explore new parts of rivers and streams. Some species live across almost the entire range. Others are found only in a very small number of river systems.
