Pedder Galaxias

Habitat Distribution

• Endemic to south-west Tasmania; originally found only in the shallow, sandy-beached original Lake Pedder and its tributary streams and surrounding swamps.
• Now extinct in its native habitat following the 1972 flooding; survives only in two translocated refuge populations — Lake Oberon in the Western Arthur Range and the Strathgordon water supply dam.
• Adults use darkly tannin-stained water along rocky lake margins and around vegetation or woody debris where streams enter lakes; juveniles school in open water near lake edges.
• In streams, the last wild fish favoured heavily shaded, sandy-bottomed, slow-moving sections with deep pools and dense instream cover.

Key Locations

• Lake Oberon, Western Arthur Range, south-west Tasmania — the primary refuge population, established in the early 1990s and confirmed abundant as of 2026.
• Strathgordon water supply dam, south-west Tasmania — a second refuge population established in the early 2000s and periodically supplemented from Lake Oberon.

Specific Spots

• Rocky and boulder-strewn lake margins in tannin-stained water — the low light and structure provide cover from predators.
• Around submerged woody debris and aquatic vegetation where streams enter lakes; juveniles hold in open water just off the shoreline.
• In streams, deep pools in heavily shaded, slow-moving, convoluted reaches with sandy bottoms and abundant instream cover.