Galaxias brevipinnis Günther, 1866
Koaro
Climbing galaxias,  Broad-finned galaxias,  Cox's mountain galaxias,  Cox's mountain trout,  Lake trout,  Lowland galaxias,  Mersey jollytail,  Mountain trout,  Pieman galaxias,  Pieman jollytail,  Short-fin galaxias,  St. Claire trout
Galaxias brevipinnis
photo by Bursell, J.J.

Family:  Galaxiidae (Galaxiids), subfamily: Galaxiinae
Max. size:  28 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; marine, amphidromous
Distribution:  Oceania: found in southeastern Australia in streams draining east and south from the Great Dividing Range; Flinders and King Islands in Bass Strait; widespread in Tasmania; also in New Zealand and the Chatham, Auckland and Campbell Islands.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Inhabits mainly clear streams, often deeply shaded and relatively fast-flowing, although it sometimes occurs in lakes, particularly in Tasmania. In New Zealand and parts of Tasmania, juveniles occur in marine waters, presumably the larvae are washed out to the sea. The existence of a marine stage is regarded to be facultative rather than obligatory in Australia. Swims near the bottom, usually around the cover of rocks and logs. More common in uploads (Snowy Mountains, Otway Ranges, central Tasmania) than at lower elevations (Ref. 44894).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Found in streams draining E and S from the Great Dividing Range, from the Hunter River, N.S.W., W as far as Kangaroo Is., S.A. from Flinders Is. And King Is., Bass Strait and widespread in Tasmania (Ref. 7300, 75154). Rare in Victoria (Ref. 48666). Status remains secure, although the range has contracted due to habitat destruction and encroachment of introduced trout (Ref. 44894).


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