Kingdom Animalia Order Osmeriformes Genus Galaxiella Higher classification Galaxiella | Phylum Chordata Family Galaxiidae Scientific name Galaxiella munda Rank Species | |
Similar Galaxiella, Black‑stripe minnow, Western galaxias, Galaxiidae, Nannatherina balstoni | ||
Galaxiella munda is a species of fish in the Galaxiidae family. It is endemic to inland waters of southwest Western Australia, and known as the Western mud minnow. In 1999 the Mud Minnow was not included in the list of threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, but is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List.
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Description
This species has a maximum length of 6 centimetres (2 in). The Mud Minnow has an elongated scaleless body, a white belly and a grey-brown back. A distinctive broad brown stripe starts from behind the eye and ends tailfins base. The fish has a one-year life-cycle.
A number of informal names exist for this species, Galaxias, the Western dwarf galaxias, and Western mud minnow. The name mud minnow also refers to the Lepidogalaxiidae family, while Swan galaxias can refer to either Galaxiella munda or the Galaxias species G. fontanus.
Habit
This species is only found in the South West corner of Western Australia, preferring swift-flowing streams in Karri forest. It inhabits coastal rivers, streams, ponds, swamps and ditches between Albany and Ellen Brook. It can tolerate acidic water that is tannin stained and with a pH as low as 3.0.
Diet
Galaxiella munda is carnivorous and mainly feeds on small insects, aquatic insect larvae and micro-crustaceans.