| Galaxiidae (Galaxiids), subfamily: Galaxiinae |
| 9.6 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 8.0 g |
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benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 0 - 1 m, non-migratory |
| Oceania: Australia. |
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Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae: 52-58. This species is distinguished from its congeners within the Galaxias olidus complex by the following characters: pelvic fin with 8 segmented rays; mean vertebral count very high 57, with broad range (52-59); distinct subterminal mouth; dorsal, anal and pelvic fin origins are set far back along trunk (70.4-75.1, 74.8-80.2 and 49.7-55.6 % SL respectively); distance between pectoral and pelvic fin bases is long (27.8-35.7 % SL); body depth shallow (8.4-12.4 % SL), much greater through pectoral fin base (11.8-16.4 % SL) than that through vent; caudal peduncle is very short and shallow (10.0-12.7 and 6.3-8.9 SL respectively); caudal fin much longer (120 %) than caudal peduncle; snout long (26.7-34.9 % HL); eye small (13.1-20.7 % HL); nostrils short and not visible from ventral view; anal fin base short (8.7-10.9 % SL); dorsal and anal fins short (12.6-15.9 and 13.1-15.9 % SL respectively); dorsal midline usually flattened anteriorly from above or slightly posterior to pectoral fin bases; posterior extent of mouth about 0.8 eye diameter below ventral margin of eye; usually 2, occasionally 1; pyloric caecae of moderate length (4.6 % SL); gill rakers are short to moderately long; anal fin origin usually under 0.85 distance posteriorly along dorsal fin base (greatest setback in all members of the species complex); no distinct black bars along lateral line though, very occasionally, dark patches on dorsal midline may have a very small, black bar in the centre; and, distinctive, mottled colour pattern (Ref. 98815). |
| A freshwater fish that is unable to undertake diadromous migrations. Collected from cold and clear water in small flowing creeks (0.6-1.1 m average width, 0.1-0.2 m average depth, 0.5-0.6 m maximum depth) and from an on-stream lake (Blue Lake). All sites during winter are covered by snow and ice for an extended period of time. Substrate in the creeks consisted of bedrock, boulder, cobble, gravel and sand while the lake with cobble, pebble, gravel and silt.The fish is collected among rock, undercut banks and overhanging grasses in the creeks, mainly from pools. In Blue Lake, collected among small cobbles and from within 2 m of the shoreline (location and habitat in deeper water unknown). All sites without emergent or submerged aquatic vegetation or overhead shading. Collected at a density of 4.5 fish/m2 in Carruthers Creek, 2.5 fish/m2 along the edges of Blue Lake, and 1.5 fish/m2 in an inflowing tributary to Blue Lake. It is the only native fish species so far recorded from within its range, although Galaxias olidus is presumed to be present nearby. It is collected in Carruthers Creek with an unidentified native spiny crayfish Euastacus sp. (possibly E. rieki) (Ref. 98815). |
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Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 13 February 2019 (A3bce; B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)) Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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Type locality of Galaxias supremus, Mount Kosciuszko National Park, on Main Range Track, south-east of Blue Lake, Carruthers Creek. Confirmed records only from Blue Lake and the type locality at an elevation of 1900 to 1950 m asl. The Carruthers Creek is approximately 1.3 km (river distance) from the source (at 2100 m asl), in a catchment of approximately 3.5 km2 and that of Blue Lake approximately 1.6 km (river distance) from the source (at 2150 m asl), in a catchment of approximately 5.5 km2. Alien trout are abundant in the Snowy River approximately 2 km downstream from the Carruthers Creek and Blue Lake locations, and thus the populations of Galaxias supremus are considered to be currently restricted to the upper reaches of each system; within the Blue Lake Creek possibly to upstream of Hedley Tarn which is just over 1 km upstream from the Snowy River (Ref. 98815).
Conservation status. Critically endangered based on IUCN criteria (ISPS 2013): A2e; B1+2abc; C2a(i) with two locations/populations, estimated EOO of 6 km2
and AOO of 1.4 km2 (Ref. 98815).
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