Author: Raadik, 2014
FBname: Obscure Galaxias
Comments: A freshwater fish that is unable to undertake diadromous migrations. Generally found at low to moderate elevations (lowland to foothill reaches) in  different stream types, ranging from slower-flowing, clear to turbid, medium to larger rivers (4-20 m average width), gently or moderately fast flowing smaller creeks (0.5-4.0 m average width), also in anabranches, billabongs and some wetlands, including disconnected pools in drying water courses. It is recorded from shallow riffle areas along the edge of pools as juveniles, to deeper (0.1- >1.2 m average depth), more open water habitats in pools as adults, although also usually in glides. Often found among dense aquatic vegetation and timber debris, occasionally in the open in midwater or just under the surface. Recorded often at densities up to 0.7-1.6 fish/m2, but can be very abundant in swamps, billabongs and isolated pools (up to 8.0 fish/m2). Collected with a diverse range of fish and decapod crustacea, commonly with <i>Galaxias olidus, Galaxias arcanus, Gadopsis marmoratus</i> (River blackfish), <i>Nannoperca australis</i> (Southern Pygmy Perch), <i>Retropinna</i> sp. (Australian Smelt), <i>Philypnodon grandiceps</i> (Flatheaded Gudgeon), Common Freshwater Shrimp and Common Yabby. It appears to have high physico-chemical tolerance as recorded from isolated pools with high water turbidity or salinity levels (e.g. Wimmera and Glenelg river systems), or stagnant, refuge pools with high loads of dissolved organic carbon from leachates of  <i>Eucalyptus</i> leaves (e.g. Marne River) and upper Avoca River system. It has been found to be infected with the parasitic copepod <i>Lernaea cyprinoides</i>,   and can be lightly to heavily infected with small grey to black cysts, possibly trematode metacercariae, embedded in the skin of the head or trunk, or in the fins. A small number of fish were recorded with a short, thin, white worm, coiled and pointed at both ends, from amongst fat deposits around the stomach in the body cavity, others with small ulcers on the body. Deformities recorded of fins (dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic), jaws and posterior margin of the gill cover, and some with curvature of the spine (Ref. 98815).