Home · Galaxiidae · Flathead galaxias
Flathead galaxias (Galaxias depressiceps) — Galaxiidae

Flathead galaxias

Galaxias depressiceps
Family: Galaxiidae

The Flathead galaxias (Galaxias depressiceps) is a freshwater fish of the family Galaxiidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: New Zealand

Want the complete picture on the Flathead galaxias?

Get the app

Description

The Flathead galaxias is a galaxiid (Galaxiidae) from cool fresh water of southern New Zealand. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a slender, scaleless, brownish body with a rear-set dorsal fin. As a bottom-oriented fish it shelters among stones and roots of clear streams and hunts insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Flathead galaxias?

The Flathead galaxias has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Flathead galaxias live?

The Flathead galaxias lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Oceania: New Zealand

How big does the Flathead galaxias get?

The Flathead galaxias grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Flathead galaxias dangerous to humans?

No, the Flathead galaxias is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Flathead galaxias (Galaxias depressiceps) — Galaxiidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Te Papa (CC BY 4.0)
Flathead galaxias (Galaxias depressiceps) — Galaxiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) James Tweed, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Flathead galaxias (Galaxias depressiceps) — Galaxiidae — 4
James Tweed (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Flathead galaxias (Galaxias depressiceps) — Galaxiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) jonwaters, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Flathead galaxias?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Flathead galaxias is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Flathead galaxias sourced
Scientific name
Galaxias depressiceps
Family
Galaxiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Oceania: New Zealand sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Galaxias

More from the family Galaxiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Flathead galaxias?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Flathead galaxias is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Flathead galaxias? Get the app