Native Fish: Juvenile Climbing Galaxias (Galaxias brevipinnis), Sydney

Also known as the Broad-finned Galaxias or Koaro in New Zealand, the Climbing Galaxias is a common small native freshwater fish in south-eastern Australia.

These juvenile Climbing Galaxias were just 3-4cm long and making their way back upstream to mature in waters safe from introduced predators. This small population of fish is thought to be landlocked, so rather than larvae developing in the sea, they develop in an dammed inland lake before moving back upstream to relative safety.

Renowned for their climbing abilities, Climbing Galaxias can scale substantial vertical waterfalls as juveniles. Their very elongate bodies, relatively flat ventral surface, convex dorsal surface, and broad pelvic and pectoral fins help them to wriggle up wet surfaces taking advantage of water tension to stick them to the surface. The waterfall at the start of this video will be their first major challenge; I would imagine the overhanging root system provides the best opportunity for small fish to make the climb, but unfortunately I wasn't able to view any trying to scale the waterfall when I visited.

For more information on Climbing Galaxias see the following pages  

Fishes of Australia
http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/h...

Australian Museum
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Climbi...

CAAB Taxon Code: 37102002