Morphology Data of Galaxias zebratus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Skelton, P.H., 2001
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs no special organs
Different appearance
Different colors always different colors between mature adults
Remarks Adults males usually darker in colour than females (Ref. 93592).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features other (see Diagnosis)
Body shape lateral elongated
Cross section oval
Dorsal head profile more or less straight
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: body slender and cylindrical, without scales; dorsal fin placed far back over anal fin; caudal fin truncated; mouth terminal, jaws with teeth; large eyes; internal organs visible in live specimens (Ref. 52193). Loss of two laterosensory pores beneath the lower jaw; elongate caudal peduncle (Ref. 93822).

Description: snout rounded, as long as or little shorter than eye (Ref. 2989, 54167). Body depth 4.6-7.0x and head length 3.5-5.0x TL (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93595, 93596, 93785). Dorsal fin insertion 59,3-67,0% of SL; length of caudal peduncle is 17,8-23,1% of SL (Ref. 93822). Eye of moderate size, set high and well forward in head; interorbital more or less flat (Ref. 93822). Teeth on jaws subequal (Ref. 54167, 93596, 93785), delicate, pointy and uniserial (Ref. 6461, 93595). Teeth on entopterygoid short, pointy and uniserial (Ref. 6461, 93595) and on tongue margin large and recurved in double row (Ref. 6461). No distinct enlarged canines (Ref. 93785, 93822). Jaws equal anteriorly (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93785). Maxillary extending to below anterior border (Ref. 2989) or anterior fourth of eye (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93785). Lower jaw may slightly project (Ref. 54167, 93596). Dorsal-fin: 9-11 (Ref. 93822), 10-12 (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93596, 93785) or 11-13 (Ref. 5214, 6461, 52193) rays. Dorsal fin well forward in SL; distal margin rounded (Ref. 93822). Anal fin: 9-12 (Ref. 93785), 9-13 (Ref. 93822), 10-12 (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93596) or 11-14 (Ref. 5214, 6461, 52193, 54167). Anal fin distal margin rounded (Ref. 93822). Pelvic fin: 6 (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93595, 93785, 93822) to 7 (Ref. 93595, 93822) rays. Pelvic fins inserted at midpoint of SL; pelvic-anal interval quite short; fins small (Ref. 93822). Pectoral fin: 14-17 rays; short and fan shaped (Ref. 93822). Pelvic fins: 6-7 rays (Ref. 93822). Caudal fin: 13-15 rays; long; peduncle flanges low but extending well along peduncle towards bases of dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 93822). Gill rakers short (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93822). On upper limb 2-3 (Ref. 6461) and on lower limb 9-10 (Ref. 6461) or 8 (Ref. 2989, 54167, 93785) gill rakers. Vertebrae: 39-41 (Ref. 6461) or 36-42 (Ref. 93822).

Coloration: semi-transparent, due to complete absence of scales; degree of pigmentation largely affected by general colour of stream or lake bottom (Ref. 93591, 93592). Body with or without darker blotches or bars on sides and back (Ref. 52193). Belly lighter (Ref. 1904, 54167). Vertebrae, red gills, heart and silvery lining of body cavity showing through (Ref. 5214, 6461, 52193, 93591). Adults males usually darker in colour than females (Ref. 93592).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Galaxias zebratus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 8 - 10
on upper limb 2 - 3
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 36 - 42

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 9 - 13
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 9 - 14

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   14 - 17
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   6 - 7
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