Salamanderfish
Encyclopedia
Lepidogalaxias salamandroides is a species of small fish of Western Australia
. It is the only member
of the family Lepidogalaxiidae (Lepidogalaxiid) and genus Lepidogalaxias. Common name
s for this fish include Salamanderfish and Shannon mudminnow. Although it is not a lungfish
, it resembles lungfish in several respects, including its ability to survive dry seasons by burrowing into the sand.
Lepidogalaxias salamandroides is small with females measuring up to 7 cm in length. This species has a slender, elongate and cylindrical body. The colour is brownish-green on the upper parts, silver-speckled and blotched on the sides, very pale below, and the fin membranes are transparent
. The reddish eyes are fixed, but the fish is able to move its neck in any direction.
It has a limited distribution in acid
ic pools of water in heathland peat
flats of southwest Australia
, between the Blackwood
and Kent River
s. This range is across a distance of 180 kilometres, in an area of Northcliffe
, they are common in this region. Its habitat is semi-permanent water, small pools and stream
s that may be high in tannin
s and acidity (pH 3.0-6.5). They experience a range of water temperatures, daily changes of 16 to 32 degrees Celsius, in pools no deeper than 0.1 metres. The species rests on the bottom of the water using elongated pelvic and rounded caudal fins. These small and shallow pools may contain a population of around 150 individuals, are generally no larger than 600 square metres, and evaporate in the dry seasons. It is also unusual for its ability to survive desiccation
by burrowing into sand, a process of aestivation, when the pools it lives in periodically evaporate.
The species was first described in 1961 by Gerlof Fokko Mees
. This author identified the species as belonging to the Galaxiidae, but the relationship to those species was in doubt. Lepidogalaxias salamandroides was eventually placed among the Osmeriformes
as a monotypic arrangement, Lepidogalaxias (Lepidogalaxiidae), in 1991. This placement has been also challenged, but remains current. The species is contained in the class Actinopterygii
, ray-finned fish, and is sometimes given the taxonomic placements as Galaxiidae of the order Salmoniformes.
It is sometimes named as the Mud minnow, Long-finned Galaxias, Scaled Galaxias, or Dwarf pencilfish, however mud minnow usually refers to Galaxiella munda.
A further list of names refer to L. salamandroides; Salamanderfish of Western Australia, West Australian salamanderfish, salamander fish, salmanderfish, 鱗南乳魚(螈魚) (Chinese), Salamanderfisch (German), and Shannon mudminnow.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It is the only member
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
of the family Lepidogalaxiidae (Lepidogalaxiid) and genus Lepidogalaxias. Common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
s for this fish include Salamanderfish and Shannon mudminnow. Although it is not a lungfish
Lungfish
Lungfish are freshwater fish belonging to the Subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed...
, it resembles lungfish in several respects, including its ability to survive dry seasons by burrowing into the sand.
Lepidogalaxias salamandroides is small with females measuring up to 7 cm in length. This species has a slender, elongate and cylindrical body. The colour is brownish-green on the upper parts, silver-speckled and blotched on the sides, very pale below, and the fin membranes are transparent
Transparency and translucency
In the field of optics, transparency is the physical property of allowing light to pass through a material; translucency only allows light to pass through diffusely. The opposite property is opacity...
. The reddish eyes are fixed, but the fish is able to move its neck in any direction.
It has a limited distribution in acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ic pools of water in heathland peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
flats of southwest Australia
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
, between the Blackwood
Blackwood River
The Blackwood River is a major river and catchment in the South West of Western Australia.The river begins at the junction of Arthur River and Balgarup River near Quelarup and travels in a south westerly direction through the town of Bridgetown then through Nannup until it discharges into the...
and Kent River
Kent River
The Kent River is a river in the Great Southern of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise near Tenterden then flows in a south westerly direction crosses the Muirs Highway east of Rocky Gully then through Mount Roe-Mount Lindesay National Park then crosses the South Coast Highway near...
s. This range is across a distance of 180 kilometres, in an area of Northcliffe
Northcliffe, Western Australia
Northcliffe is a town located in the lower South West region of Western Australia, about south of the town of Pemberton. At the 2006 census, Northcliffe had a population of 412....
, they are common in this region. Its habitat is semi-permanent water, small pools and stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s that may be high in tannin
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
s and acidity (pH 3.0-6.5). They experience a range of water temperatures, daily changes of 16 to 32 degrees Celsius, in pools no deeper than 0.1 metres. The species rests on the bottom of the water using elongated pelvic and rounded caudal fins. These small and shallow pools may contain a population of around 150 individuals, are generally no larger than 600 square metres, and evaporate in the dry seasons. It is also unusual for its ability to survive desiccation
Desiccation
Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.-Science:...
by burrowing into sand, a process of aestivation, when the pools it lives in periodically evaporate.
The species was first described in 1961 by Gerlof Fokko Mees
Gerlof Fokko Mees
Dr Gerlof Fokko Mees is a Dutch ichthyologist, ornithologist and museum curator who was born in the Netherlands, grew up in the Dutch East Indies, and spent much of his life working in Australasia...
. This author identified the species as belonging to the Galaxiidae, but the relationship to those species was in doubt. Lepidogalaxias salamandroides was eventually placed among the Osmeriformes
Osmeriformes
Osmeriformes is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the true or freshwater smelts and allies, such as the galaxiids and noodlefishes; they are also collectively called osmeriforms. They belong to the teleost superorder Protacanthopterygii, which also includes pike and salmon, among others...
as a monotypic arrangement, Lepidogalaxias (Lepidogalaxiidae), in 1991. This placement has been also challenged, but remains current. The species is contained in the class Actinopterygii
Actinopterygii
The Actinopterygii or ray-finned fishes constitute a class or sub-class of the bony fishes.The ray-finned fishes are so called because they possess lepidotrichia or "fin rays", their fins being webs of skin supported by bony or horny spines , as opposed to the fleshy, lobed fins that characterize...
, ray-finned fish, and is sometimes given the taxonomic placements as Galaxiidae of the order Salmoniformes.
It is sometimes named as the Mud minnow, Long-finned Galaxias, Scaled Galaxias, or Dwarf pencilfish, however mud minnow usually refers to Galaxiella munda.
A further list of names refer to L. salamandroides; Salamanderfish of Western Australia, West Australian salamanderfish, salamander fish, salmanderfish, 鱗南乳魚(螈魚) (Chinese), Salamanderfisch (German), and Shannon mudminnow.