Chatham mudfish

The Chatham mudfish (Neochanna rekohua), formerly known as the Chathams galaxias (Galaxias rekohua), is a galaxiid fish endemic to two small, peaty lakes in southern Chatham Island, New Zealand.

Chatham mudfish

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Osmeriformes
Family:
Galaxiidae
Subfamily:
Galaxiinae
Genus:
Neochanna
Species:
N. rekohua
Binomial name
Neochanna rekohua
(C. P. Mitchell, 1995)

It was discovered in 1994 by C.P. Mitchell, who initially placed it in the genus Galaxias, and gave it the species name rekohua after the Moriori word for the Chatham Islands.[2] In 2004, R.M. McDowall reassigned it to Neochanna based on its external anatomy, behaviour, and skeleton,[3] and this was subsequently supported by a genetic analysis.[4]

The Chatham mudfish is the most Galaxias-like of all the mudfishes, with a short body and small pelvic fins, and is closely related to the Canterbury mudfish.[5] Neochanna rekohua averages 75 mm (though the largest individuals can reach 175 mm), and is a dark mottled brown. It only lives on the edges of a few peaty lakes amongst submerged wood, so is naturally uncommon, but abundant in the few spots where it occurs.[5]

As of 2014, the IUCN indicated that the Chatham mudfish was a least-concern species.[1]

References
  1. "Neochanna rekohua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 14 July 2014. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  2. Mitchell, C.P. (1995). "A new species of Galaxias (Pisces, Galaxiidae) from Chatham Island, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 25 (1): 89–93. doi:10.1080/03014223.1995.9517484.
  3. McDowall, R.M. (2004). "The Chatham Islands endemic galaxiid: A Neochanna mudfish (Teleostei: Galaxiidae)". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 34 (3): 315–331. doi:10.1080/03014223.2004.9517769.
  4. Waters, J.M.; McDowall, R.M. (2005). "Phylogenetics of the Australasian mudfishes: evolution of an eel-like body plan". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37 (2): 417–425. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.07.003. PMID 16137896.
  5. McQueen, Stella; Morris, Rod (2013). A Photographic Guide to Freshwater Fishes of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland. p. 73. ISBN 978 1 86966 386 5.


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