Western mud minnow

Description

This species has a maximum length of 6 centimetres (2 in).The Mud Minnow has an elongated scaleless body,a white belly and a grey-brown back.A distinctive broad brown stripe starts from behind the eye and ends tailfins base.The fish has a one-year life-cycle.A number of informal names exist for this species,Galaxias,the Western dwarf galaxias,and Western mud minnow.The name mud minnow also refers to the Lepidogalaxiidae family,while Swan galaxias can refer to either Galaxiella munda or the Galaxias species G.fontanus.This species is only found in the South West corner of Western Australia,preferring swift-flowing streams in Karri forest.It inhabits coastal rivers,streams,ponds,swamps and ditches between Albany and Ellen Brook.It can tolerate acidic water that is tannin stained and with a pH as low as 3.0.