Kosciuszko Galaxias
The Kosciuszko galaxias is one of Australia's rarest freshwater fish — a tiny alpine species clinging to existence in a handful of cold, clear creeks and one lake high in Kosciuszko National Park.
It isn't a target species for anglers; it's critically endangered and fully protected. Its place in the fishery is as a conservation benchmark for the health of the upper Snowy River headwaters.
Scientific Name: Galaxias supremus
- Slender, elongated body; light brown to tan above, paler below the lateral line, with a golden sheen on the belly and gill covers.
- Body marked with medium to large darker blotches that merge into irregular bands, sometimes overlaid with fine dark grey spots; small black bars occasionally visible at midbody.
- Small eyes with a golden iris; upper jaw slightly overhangs the lower; dorsal, pelvic and anal fins all set well back toward the tail.
- Maximum recorded length around 96 mm; most adults run 80–85 mm — roughly the length of your index finger.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Endemic to Australia; found nowhere else on earth. Range is restricted to the upper Snowy River catchment on Ngarigo country within Kosciuszko National Park, NSW.
- Known only from Carruthers Creek, Blue Creek system, and Blue Lake — all sitting at roughly 1,900–1,950 m elevation, among the highest fish habitats on the continent.
- Lives in permanent, cold, clear flowing creeks and one on-stream lake; substrates of bedrock, boulder, cobble, gravel and sand; no aquatic vegetation present at any known site.
- All sites are buried under snow and ice for extended periods each winter, making this one of very few Australian fish that regularly survives beneath alpine ice cover.
Key Locations
- Carruthers Creek and Blue Creek system, upper Snowy River catchment, Kosciuszko National Park — the only known wild sites.
- Blue Lake, Kosciuszko National Park — the sole lake population, sitting at around 1,950 m elevation.
- Gaden Trout Hatchery, Jindabyne — holds captive insurance fish rescued during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires.
Specific Spots
- In creeks, fish hold among rocks, undercut banks and overhanging grasses — tight cover that provides refuge from current and predators.
- Pools are the primary habitat within creeks; fish are rarely collected from fast riffles except when displaced.
- In Blue Lake, fish associate with cobble, pebble and gravel substrate along the margins rather than open water.
Kosciuszko Galaxias FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
How do you catch Kosciuszko Galaxias?
This species cannot legally be targeted. Any angler who encounters one in the upper Snowy River headwaters should leave it undisturbed and report the sighting to NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
What do Kosciuszko Galaxias eat?
Related mountain galaxias feed on aquatic invertebrates, small insects, larvae and crustaceans.
Where do Kosciuszko Galaxias live?
Endemic to Australia; found nowhere else on earth. Range is restricted to the upper Snowy River catchment on Ngarigo country within Kosciuszko National Park, NSW.
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