Bonnett et al.--Diets of alpine and longjawed galaxiiids

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

Diets of alpine galaxias (Galaxias paucispondylus Stokell) and longjawed galaxias (G. prognathus Stokell) in a South Island,, New Zealand, high-country stream

M. L. BONNETT

P. M. SAGAR

C. R. DOCHERTY

Freshwater Fisheries Centre Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries P.O. Box 8324, Riccarton Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract Thedietsofthealpinegalaxias(Ga/axiay paucispondylus Stokell, 1938) and the longjawed galaxias (G. prognathus Stokell, 1940) were studied in Deep Creek, a high-country stream in the central South Island of New Zealand. Both species are small, slender fish with entirely freshwater life cycles. Their diets were very similar and consisted of aquatic invertebrates, dominated by the larvae of Deleatidium spp. (Ephemeroptera), Hydrobiosis spp. (Trichoptera), and Chironomidae (Diptera). Although diets partly reflected what was available in the stream, both fish selected soft-bodied prey in preference to cased or harder shelled prey. Both species are probably nocturnal feeders.

Keywords alpine galaxias; Galaxias paucispondylus; longjawed galaxias; Galaxias prognathus; diet; stomach contents; freshwater fish; invertebrates; benthos

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