Fig. 366.—Galaxias brevipinnis, from New Zealand, ½ natural size.
Fig. 367.—Distribution of the Galaxiidae.
The genus Galaxias has an interesting distribution, the species of which it is made up occurring in the fresh waters of the southern hemisphere, viz. 8 in New Zealand and neighbouring islands, 7 in New South Wales, 3 or 4 in South Australia, 1 in West Australia, 2 in Tasmania, 7 in South America, from Chili southwards, and 1 at the Cape of Good Hope. One species (G. attenuatus) is even believed to be identical in New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, the Falkland Islands, and South America. This conclusion is probably correct from the fact, which may account for the distribution of the whole genus, that it is not confined to fresh waters, but occurs also in the sea. Specimens were observed by Mr. Rupert Vallentin in the Falkland Islands, where the Fish is known to the inhabitants as "Smelts," in shoals in the shallow water along the shore; and, according to Mr. F. E. Clarke, the same species, in New Zealand, periodically descends to the sea, where it spawns, from January to March, and returns from March to May. A marine species has recently been discovered at the Chatham Islands. In New Zealand, the Galaxias were called "Trout" by the settlers before the introduction of Salmonids, whilst the fry of G. attenuatus are eaten as "Whitebait." The largest species reach the length of a foot. Neochanna, from New Zealand, differs from Galaxias in the absence of ventral fins; it has been found in burrows, which it excavates at a distance from water.
Fam. 2. Haplochitonidae.—Small fresh-water Trout-like Fishes, agreeing in most respects with the Galaxiidae, to which they are unquestionably closely related, differing only in the greater extent of the praemaxillaries, which exclude the maxillary from the oral border, in the double basis cranii (the prootics uniting under the brain, leaving a canal between them and the parasphenoid), in the shorter parapophyses, which, like the neural arches of the praecaudal vertebrae, are autogenous, and in the presence of a small adipose dorsal fin, opposed to the anal.
Two genera: Haplochiton, naked, with a single species from Chili, the southern extremity of South America, and the Falkland Islands, and Prototroctes, covered with small scales, of which one species inhabits Queensland, another South Australia, and a third New Zealand. In Haplochiton, the urogenital orifice of both sexes is produced into a cylindrical tube, which lies concealed in a groove in front of the anal fin.
Fam. 3. Enchodontidae.—Margin of the upper jaw formed by the praemaxillaries and the maxillaries, the latter sometimes toothed like the former. Frontals in contact with the supraoccipital; basis cranii simple. Ribs sessile; praecaudal vertebrae without transverse processes. Rayed dorsal fin never much extended; sometimes an adipose fin behind it. Scales delicate or absent, but occasional longitudinal series of scutes occur, the dorsal series, when present, being unpaired.
Cretaceous Fishes allied to, and apparently more generalised than, the Esocidae and Scopelidae. Numerous remains from Europe and North America, referred to 7 genera: Enchodus, Eurypholis, Palaeolycus, Halec, Cimolichthys, Prionolepis.
Fam. 4. Esocidae.—Margin of the upper jaw formed by the praemaxillaries and maxillaries, the latter behind the former, and toothless. Supraoccipital in contact with the frontals, separating the small parietals; opercular bones all well developed; basis cranii simple. No parapophyses, except to the hindermost praecaudal vertebrae; epipleurals and epineurals. Post-temporal forked, the upper branch attached to the epiotic, the lower to the exoccipital; post-clavicle present. Vertical fins far back; no adipose dorsal fin. Pectoral fins inserted very low down; ventrals with 6 to 11 rays. Air-bladder present.