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Reproductive biology, species status and taxonomic relationships of four recently discovered galaxiid fishes in a New Zealand river
Author(s) -
Allibone R. M.,
Townsend C. R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1997.tb01140.x
Subject(s) - biology , allopatric speciation , fecundity , galaxias , ecology , zoology , sister group , reproductive biology , habitat , fishery , phylogenetics , population , clade , biochemistry , physics , demography , quantum mechanics , sociology , galaxy , gene , embryo , embryogenesis
The reproductive biology of four recently discovered, largely allopatric non‐migratory Galaxias species in the Taieri River, New Zealand, was compared with the closely related Galaxias vulgaris . Timing of spawning was similar (late winter/spring) but spawning habitat, spawning behaviour and nest structure differed among the Taieri species and G. vulgaris . Patterns of fecundity also differed among the Taieri species but, with G. vulgaris , they form a distinct group of galaxiids with maxima of 800–1500 eggs having diameters of 2·3–2·8 μn. The different spawning behaviours of the Taieri galaxiids, in particular the differences in spawning orientation, provide evidence for prezygotic isolating mechanisms and support their status as separate species. In cladistics terms, the results indicate that Galaxias anomalus, G. eldoni and G. vulgaris are sister taxa, while G. depressiceps and Galaxias sp. form a second cluster.