Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts

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A new species of Galaxias (Teleostei: Galaxiidae) from the Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand

R. M. McDowall

National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 8602, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand.

J. M. Waters

Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Abstract   Galaxias macronasus n. sp. is described from three small upper tributaries of the Waitaki River System, Mackenzie Basin, central eastern South Island. It is distinctive in having a prominently rounded snout profile, with eyes well below profile, only 12-14 caudal fin rays, and 4-6, usually 5, pelvic fin rays. Morphologically, the new species most closely resembles G. paucispondylus and G. divergens which, with G. prognathus and G. cobitinis, are labelled the “pencil galaxias” owing to their elongate, slender, pencil shape. G. macronasus resembles these species in features of osteology of the cranium, suspensorium, and pectoral girdle. Gene sequencing strongly supports distinct taxonomic status of the new form, but provides a different perspective on its phylogenetic relationships. This conflict remains unresolved.

Keywords   Galaxiidae; new species; taxonomy; New Zealand; Waitaki River

R02043 Received 23 September 2002; accepted 2 April 2003; online publication date 11 September 2003
© Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 33, Number 3, September 2003, pp 675-691

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