PORT PHILLIP BAY


Common Galaxias 

Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns, 1842)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 7-15
Anal fin spines/rays: 10-20
Caudal fin rays: 16
Pectoral fin rays: 11-15
Ventral fin spines/rays: 7
Lateral line: -
Gill rakers: 13-21
Vertebrae: 50-62

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A group of small to medium-sized ray-finned fishes with both freshwater and marine life stages. Most spend their lives in freshwater and spawn in the lower reaches of rivers and streams. The larvae develop in the open ocean, before migrating back to freshwater. The order contains three families, two of which are found in Australia.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Osmeriformes
Family:
Galaxiidae
Genus:
Galaxias
Species:
maculatus

General Description

This species is in the family Galaxiidae. Galaxiids have long, slender tubular bodies, lack fin spines, scales and adipose fins, have short-based dorsal and anal fins far back on the body and more-or-less opposite. About 8-15 cm in length.

Biology

Galaxiids are a group of primarily freshwater fishes. Many species are diadromous with marine larval and juvenile stages. Some species are pelagic, whereas others live on or near the bottom.

Habitat

Widespread in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments, in depths of 0-5 m.

Reefs

Open water

Distribution guide

Galaxiid species are found mostly in cooler, temperate freshwaters of the Southern Hemisphere.

Species Group

Fishes › Galaxiids

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor Midwater

Max Size

15 cm

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Common Galaxias, Galaxias maculatus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jun 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6339

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