DSC_5680 Eldons galaxias (Galaxias eldoni) with only 18 known populations left, Eldon’s galaxias are classified Nationally endangered, with survivors occupying a total area of only 5.4 hectares.They are found in eastern areas of Otago. They live in small tributaries of the Taieri, Waipori and Tokomairiro rivers, draining from the Lammerlaw range, downstream of Lake Mahinerangi. They make their home under banks and amongst the gravels of very small headwater streams that are typically about 200–900 m above sea level and surrounded by vegetation such as tussock, mānuka and coprosma. This very large individual is from Stony Stream, Lammerlaw Range *
DSC_5173 Eldons galaxias (Galaxias eldoni) an electro-fishing team surveying Stony Stream in the Lammerlaw Range for Eldon's galaxias -a roundhead lineage found in the Lower Taieri *
11004-05301 Gollum galaxias (Galaxias gollumoides) one of 12 species of non-migratory endemic galaxiids from southern New Zealand. They are classified Nationally vulnerable, occupying an area of 40.8 hectares. Gollumoides can be found in a wide range of habitats from lowland wetlands near sea level to small headwater streams in high country tussocklands up to 1100 m above sea level. They are distributed throughout Southland with population strongholds present in the Mataura, Oreti, Waiau, Aparima, Catlins and Owaka rivers. Incredibly, some populations can even be found on Stewart Island/Rakiura, and are thought to have been distributed there during the Pleistocene ice age when a land-bridge was present. Allen Creek, Kingston *
