Stocky Galaxias
The Stocky Galaxias is not a fishing target — it is one of Australia's most critically endangered freshwater fish, surviving in less than 6 km of two subalpine streams inside Kosciuszko National Park, NSW.
First described as a distinct species in 2014, it exists in such small numbers that a captive breeding program is actively working to pull it back from the edge of extinction.
Scientific Name: Galaxias tantangara
Also known as Stocky
- Small, tubular body noticeably stocky between the pectoral fins and vent; typically 75–85 mm long, maximum around 103 mm.
- Dark olive-brown on the back and upper sides, with small dark spots that merge into irregular blotches and bands; belly cream-coloured.
- Spotting extends onto the top of the head, cheeks and jaws — the key feature separating it from the similar Mountain Galaxias.
- Blunt, slightly bulbous head; wide mouth reaching back to below the middle of the eye; anal fin longer than the dorsal fin.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australia; range is extremely restricted — currently known only from Tantangara Creek and Sallys Flat Creek in Kosciuszko National Park, NSW.
- Both streams are tiny (typically 0.5–0.8 m wide, 0.1–0.3 m deep), cold, clear and fast-flowing subalpine waterways that are often snow-covered in winter.
- Tantangara Creek runs through open eucalypt forest with low shrubs and tussock grass; Sallys Flat Creek flows through open tussock grassland.
- Has been lost from much of its historical range; the total occupied habitat now spans less than 6 km of stream.
Key Locations
- Tantangara Creek, Kosciuszko National Park — one of only two known wild populations, in the park's northern reaches.
- Sallys Flat Creek, Kosciuszko National Park — the second known wild population, flowing through open tussock grassland.
- Gaden Trout Hatchery, Jindabyne — holds captive-bred individuals as part of the emergency conservation program.
Specific Spots
- Undercut banks and overhanging vegetation in Tantangara Creek provide the main in-stream cover and shade the fish actively use.
- Aquatic vegetation and undercuts are the key refuges in Sallys Flat Creek.
- Rock cobble areas are critical — the only known spawning site was under a small cobble at the head of a pool.
Stocky Galaxias FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
How do you catch Stocky Galaxias?
This species cannot legally be targeted, handled or disturbed. It is fully protected under NSW and federal law. The only legitimate interaction is through conservation programs run by authorised researchers and government agencies.
What do Stocky Galaxias eat?
Feeds on aquatic invertebrates including mayfly and stonefly larvae, and other insects, the same invertebrate community found in clean, cold mountain streams.
Where do Stocky Galaxias live?
Native to Australia; range is extremely restricted, currently known only from Tantangara Creek and Sallys Flat Creek in Kosciuszko National Park, NSW. Both streams are tiny (typically 0.5–0.8 m wide, 0.1–0.3 m deep), cold, clear and fast-flowing subalpine waterways that are often snow-covered in winter.
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