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Roundsnout Galaxias

Roundsnout Galaxias

Galaxias terenasus — the roundsnout galaxias — is a relic of ancient Gondwanan lineage, surviving today in just a handful of clear headwater streams in southeastern Australia.

Maxing out at 7 cm and 3 grams, it draws no angling attention; its significance is entirely ecological, a tiny fish whose continued existence depends on the integrity of the isolated stream reaches it calls home.

Scientific Name: Galaxias terenasus

Physical Characteristics:
  • The rounded lateral snout profile is the key ID feature — most other small galaxiids have a more pointed snout, making this the quickest field distinction.
  • Proportionally large eyes (17.5–27.7% of head length), thin fins, and a notably shallow body depth through the pectoral fin base give it a delicate, almost translucent appearance.
  • Maximum size is 7 cm fork length and 3 grams; fish reach sexual maturity at just 30–35 mm, meaning adults can be surprisingly small.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • A southeastern Australian endemic with one of the tightest ranges of any freshwater fish on the continent — known only from the Snowy, Cann, and Genoa river systems across the Snowy and East Gippsland catchments.
  • Clear, slow-to-moderate flowing freshwater streams are its world; it occupies the near-bottom and mid-water zone in shallow reaches rarely exceeding a meter in depth.

Specific Spots

  • Shallow stream sections with low to moderate current are where this species concentrates — the recorded depth range of 0–1 meter reflects a life spent in the uppermost, shallowest parts of its home reaches.

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