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identificationA relatively large galaxiid with a large, dorsoventrally flattened head and a large mouth reaching to below the eyes. Maximum size 278 mm; usually 150–180 mm. Adults are sturdy and almost tubular, and usually have a blue-black blotch above the base of the pectoral fins. The tail is truncate and the pectoral fins are large, low and downward facing, hence its alternative common name of Broad-finned galaxias. The body is scaleless and greyish brown to olive, often patterned with bold chevron stripes on the dorsal and lateral surfaces, and the belly is a dull silvery olive.

Biology and habitatThe Climbing galaxias is normally a fish of coastal streams, but it has been transferred to the upper Murray drainage in water from the Snowy River, via the Snowy Mountains Scheme. It is among the several coastal galaxiids that can survive and reproduce as landlocked populations. In coastal streams it breeds during autumn and winter, scattering

its eggs amongst vegetation on the stream edge above the normal flow level, presumably when streams are in flood. In these sea run populations the eggs are deposited in flooded riparian areas, usually within 1 m but up to 7 m from the water’s edge. Fecundity is high: up to 23,676 eggs have been reported, and an average of 7,000 per individual. The eggs are round, adhesive and 1.8–2.1 mm diameter. They develop out of water in these damp habitats for days or weeks and hatch with the next flood. The larvae are thought to be swept downstream to the sea, where they remain for 5–6 months before migrating back into estuarine and freshwater habitats.

The reproductive ecology in the landlocked population of the Basin is unknown, but in similar situations in Tasmania large lakes replace the marine larval stage. There has been little investigation into the species’ ecology in the Basin, but in the upper Murray spawning is thought to occur in late April or early May.

The diet consists mainly of aquatic invertebrates such as mayflies, caddisflies dipterans and small crustaceans. The species

Common name climbing galaxias (Broad-finned galaxias) translocated/native

scientific name Galaxias brevipinnis günther, 1866

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F i s h e s o F t h e M u r r ay- Da r l i n g B a s i n 39An introductory guide38 F i s h e s o F t h e M u r r ay- Da r l i n g B a s i n 39An introductory guide38 An introductory guide 39

is renowned for its ability to climb vertical waterfalls and rock faces, using its broad pectoral and pelvic fins.

Distribution and abundanceThis widespread species is found in coastal streams of south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. Although it can be predominantly considered as occurring in the Basin as a result of translocation, there is an historical record from the Lower Murray in SA where it probably had a small population in the Mt Lofty Ranges, which adjoins coastal populations (e.g. the species is common on the nearby southern Fleurieu Peninsula). In the Basin, it is largely restricted to the upper Murray and its tributaries such as the Kiewa, Geehi, Swampy Plains, and Tooma rivers although recent records from the lower Goulburn and Broken rivers indicate it is spreading downstream. A recent record of the species from the Tumut catchment (presumably via the Snowy Mountains Scheme) is the first record for the Murrumbidgee drainage.

Potential threatsWhere it is a translocated species, the Climbing galaxias may pose a threat to other native fish species, such as galaxiids or blackfish, through competition for food or space. In its natural habitats, it is threatened by predation and displacement by introduced trout species, and habitat loss through deforestation.

general referencesGlova & Sagar 1989; Hammer 2004; McDowall & Fulton 1996; Merrick & Schmida 1984; Morison & Anderson 1991; O’Connor & Koehn 1998; Waters et al. 2002.

iD VALLey 1 Avoca 2 Border rivers 3 Broken 4 campaspe 5 castlereagh 6 central Murray 7 condamine 8 darling 9 goulburn 10 gwydir 11 Kiewa 12 Lachlan 13 Loddon 14 Lower Murray 15 Macquarie 16 Mitta Mitta 17 Murrumbidgee 18 namoi 19 ovens 20 Paroo 21 upper Murray 22 Warrego 23 Wimmera

Published by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission Postal address: GPO Box 409, Canberra ACT 2601 Office location: Level 3, 51 Allara Street, Canberra City ACT Telephone: (02) 6279 0100, international + 61 2 6279 0100 Facsimile: (02) 6248 8053, international + 61 2 6248 8053 Email: info@mdbc.gov.au Internet: http://www.mdbc.gov.au

For further information contact the Murray-Darling Basin Commission office on (02) 6279 0100

This fish fact sheet is an extract derived from the report: Lintermans, M. 2007, Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin: An introductory guide.

MDBC Publication No. 10/07

ISBN 1 921257 20 2

© Murray-Darling Basin Commission 2007

This work is copyright. Graphical and textual information in the work (with the exception of photographs, artwork and the MDBC logo) may be stored, retrieved and reproduced in whole or in part provided the information is not sold or used for commercial benefit and its source (Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin) is acknowledged. Such reproduction includes fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968. Reproduction for other purposes is prohibited without the permission of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission or the individual photographers and artists with whom copyright applies.

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