Stella Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 I am currently in Dunedin and having a fantastic time hanging out with fish geeks and meeting new species. I met five species in four days! I went fishing with the DOC guys near Wanaka, in the Cardrona Valley (where the pub in the Speights ad is), then came back on my own with a borrowed electrofishing machine :happy1: The most exciting one this week was....AN ADULT LAMPREY! This was from a couple of weeks ago, a lowland longjaw galaxias. Really cute little guy, can't see how they got that name On the threatened list as 'nationally critical' due to their tiny didymo-filled distribution (which is near Oamaru). Taieri flathead galaxias, all of the fish in this stream were beautifully marked. Eldon's galaxias, a roundhead from way up in the tussock plateau near Dunedin. Otago roundhead galaxias (both photos below). You might have noticed the flathead/roundhead groups. While these are generally accurate within each species, not every flathead has a flat head, and vice versa. When one of these galaxias fish grows up in fast flowing water it will develop a flattened head, but if it grows up in very slow-flowing water it will develop a rounded head. Each morphology is better at stabilising the fish in that environment. Brook char (introduced), basically a really really pretty brown trout. Ecologically very similar, but the char is outcompeted by the trout, and mostly restricted to tiny headwater streams, or other habitats that are marginal for trout. So far I have seen (in the wild) 32 out of the 41 native species. Nine to go! My fieldguide is coming along well, but it is going to be bit of a slog to get it finished by the end of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 you lucky little tourist well done good luck with the other 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 They have some nice galaxiidae in the south island so jealous. I can count 13 wild natives, 15 if you count black flounder and grey mullet - so getting there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 I love that fourth pic... looks like it is trying to climb out of your hand and make a dash for freedom :nfs: You seem to be having a very successful sojourn around the country... well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 I like their little round snouty faces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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