Cape galaxias
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| Galaxias zebratus (Castelnau, 1861) |
The Cape galaxias, Galaxias zebratus, is a freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae, found in South Africa in coastal streams and rivers from the Keurbooms on the south coast to the Clanwilliam Olifants River system on the west coast.
The name zebratus is due to its striping which varies from one population to the next. Members of the family Galaxiidae are elongate, tubular, scaleless fishes which are related to the salmoniformes. The Cape galaxias from the Krom River have a cryptic coloration, pale brown with slight vertical barring and transparent, with red gills, heart and vertebral column visible. They are small fish rarely being above 60 mm in length in this population.
The Cape galaxias occurs mostly in coastal and lowland areas but may penetrate some distance inland, and is widespread in lakes and rivers. It prefers gentle currents within the shelter of banks near the head of pools. Small but extremely hardy, it is known to tolerate a wide range of water and temperature conditions. Its small size and cryptic color enable it to avoid predators. Feeds on small drifting invertebrates.
[edit] Reproduction
The Cape galaxias have demersal, relatively large eggs numbering about 30 to 40, rarely exceeding 50. The fish mature at 38 to 40 mm and the maximum length varies with the locality.
[edit] References
- "Galaxias zebratus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Albany Museum
