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Chlidonias

Canterbury mudfish (Neochanna burrowsius)

not the best of photos but I don't have a proper macro lens and the fish is very small. Mudfish are highly-specialised galaxiids which aestivate underground during drought (like lungfish). Early settlers often dug aestivating mudfish from the ground while farming, and used to joke that the New Zealand soil was so fertile that you could produce both fish and potatoes from the same field. There are five species in NZ and another in Tasmania. The Canterbury mudfish is endangered. January 2011

Canterbury mudfish (Neochanna burrowsius)
Chlidonias, 10 Jan 2011
JigerofLemuria likes this.
    • Chlidonias
      not the best of photos but I don\'t have a proper macro lens and the fish is very small. Mudfish are highly-specialised galaxiids which aestivate underground during drought (like lungfish). Early settlers often dug aestivating mudfish from the ground while farming, and used to joke that the New Zealand soil was so fertile that you could produce both fish and potatoes from the same field. There are five species in NZ and another in Tasmania. The Canterbury mudfish is endangered.

      January 2011
      10 Jan 2011
    • Maguari
      Fascinating little chap.

      I'm assuming it's named after someone called Burrows rather than the naming authority just being rubbish at Latin. ;)
      10 Jan 2011
    • Chlidonias
      yes indeed, although it could be construed as a bit of a pun. The species was first discovered in the early 1920s on a farm near Christchurch (whilst aestivating I believe) which was owned by a chap named Mr. A. Burrows. Other mudfish species have been known since at least the early 1800s.

      They are nice little fish. At first glance they don't look too different to regular galaxiids, but one obvious difference is how the caudal fin exends well onto the peduncle at top and bottom.
      10 Jan 2011
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  • Category:
    Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House (Closed)
    Uploaded By:
    Chlidonias
    Date:
    10 Jan 2011
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    Comment Count:
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    Date / Time:
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    Focal Length:
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