Family LEPIDOGALAXIIDAE

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Introduction

The family Lepidogalaxiidae comprises a single species Lepidogalaxias salamandroides, the Salamanderfish, endemic to the south-west coastal zone of Australia. Relationships of this species have long been a source of confusion and debate. Allen et al. (2006) placed the species in the galaxiid subfamily Lepidogalaxiinae following the work of Johnson & Patterson (1996). Although Wiley and Johnson (2010) placed Lepidogalaxias in the Galaxiidae, they noted characters that were reversed in the genus. Previously, Frankenberg (1969) suggested that Lepidogalaxias is the sole member of a closely related superfamily to the galaxiids. Rosen (1974) discussed the phylogenetic position of the monotypic salamanderfish and concluded that the species is most closely related to Northern Hemisphere esocoids. However, Fink and Weitzman (1982), in a study of stomiiform fishes disputed Rosen's assertion and left Lepidogalaxias unplaced. Fink (1984) placed it in an unresolved trichotomy with the Salmonidae as the sister group of the Neoteleostei. Williams (1997) concluded that Lepidogalaxias is galaxioid and the sister group of Galaxiidae + Aplochitonidae. McDowall and Burridge (2011) concluded that Lepidogalaxias belongs in a monotypic Order Lepidogalaxiiformes that is basal among all euteleosts.

Genetic studies (Waters et al. 2000; Li et al. 2010; Burridge et al. 2012) contradict the findings of recent morphological analyses. Waters et al. (2000) concluded that Lepidogalaxias is not a galaxiid, but belongs to a more ancient lineage. Li et al. (2010) and Burridge et al. (2012) concluded that Lepidogalaxias occupies a basal position among all euteleosts. Like McDowall and Burridge (2011), the latter placed Lepidogalaxias in a monotypic order, Lepidogalaxiiformes. Here we place Lepidogalaxias in its own family within the Osmeriformes until relationships are further resolved.

The salamanderfish, Lepidogalaxias salamandroides, inhabits freshwater streams, ponds and swamps, and attains a maximum size of about 7 cm. It is found in dark, tannin-stained waters with a pH of 4.5–7.0 and temperatures of 10–30ºC. During periods of drought it is able to aestivate in damp mud (Berra & Allen 1989; Pusey 1989). Life history characteristics of the salamanderfish are given in Berra and Allen (1989), Pusey and Stewart (1989), Gill and Morgan (1999) and Morgan et al. (2000). McDowall and Pusey (1983) redescribed the species, and McDowall & Burridge (2011) discussed the osteology.

 

General References

Allen, G.R., N.J. Cross & D.F. Hoese 2006. Lepidogalaxiinae. pp. 400-401 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp.

Berra, T.M. & Allen, G.R. 1989. Burrowing, emergence, behaviour, and functional morphology of the Australian salamanderfish, Lepidogalaxias salamandroides. Fisheries (Bethesda) 14(5): 2-10

Burridge, C.P., McDowall, R.M., Craw, D., Wilson, M.V.H. & Waters, J.M. 2012. Marine dispersal as a pre-requisite for Gondwanan vicariance among elements of the galaxiid fish fauna. Journal of Biogeography 39: 306–321

Fink, W.L. 1984. Basal euteleosts: relationships. pp. 202–206 in Moser, H.G., Richards, W.J., Cohen, D.M., Fahay, M.P., Kendall Jr., A.W. & Richardson, S.L. (eds). Ontogeny and systematics of fishes. Lawrence, Kansas : American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Vol. Special Publication No. 1 pp. 1-760.

Fink, W.L. & S.H. Weitzman. 1982. Relationships of the stomiiform fishes (Teleostei), with a description of Diplophos. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 150(2): 31-93

Frankenberg, R. 1969. Studies on the evolution of galaxiid fishes with particular reference to the Australian fauna. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 185 pp.

Gill, H.S. & D.L. Morgan 1999. Larval development of the salamanderfish, Lepidogalaxias salamandroides Mees (Lepidogalaxiidae). Copeia 1999((1)): 219-224

Johnson, G.D. & Patterson, C. 1996. Relationships of lower euteleostean fishes. pp. 251-332 in Stiassny, M.L.J., Parenti, L.R. & Johnson, G.D. (eds). Interrelationships of Fishes. San Diego : Academic Press 496 pp.

Li, J., Xia, R., McDowall, R.M., Lopéz, J.A., Lei, G. & Fu, C. 2010. Phylogenetic position of the enigmatic Lepidogalaxias salamandroides with comment on the orders of lower euteleostean fishes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57(2): 932-936

McDowall, R.M. & Burridge, C.P. 2011. Osteology and relationships of the southern freshwater lower euteleostean fishes. Zoosystematics and Evolution 87(1): 7–185 [Date published 21 March 2011]

McDowall, R.M. & Pusey, B. 1983. Lepidogalaxias salamandroides Mees — a redescription, with natural history notes. Records of the Western Australian Museum 11(1): 11-23

Morgan, D.L., Gill, H.S. & Potter, I.C. 2000. Age composition, growth and reproductive biology of the salamanderfish Lepidogalaxias salamandroides: a re-examination. Environmental Biology of Fishes 57: 191-204

Pusey, B.J. 1989. Aestivation in the teleost fish Lepidogalaxias salamandroides (Mees). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 92A: 137-138

Pusey, B.J. & Stewart, T. 1989. Internal fertilisation in Lepidogalaxias salamandroides Mees (Pisces: Lepidogalaxiidae. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 97(1): 69-79

Rosen, D.E. 1974. Phylogeny and zoogeography of salmoniform fishes and relationships of Lepidogalaxias salamandroides. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 153(2): 267-325 figs 1-45

Waters, J.M., López, J.A. & Wallis, G.P. 2000. Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of galaxiid fishes (Osetichthyes: Galaxiidae): dispersal, vicariance, and the position of Lepidogalaxius salamandroides. Systematic Biology 49(4): 775-795

Wiley, E.O. & Johnson, G.D. 2010. A teleost classification based on monophyletic groups. pp. 123-182 in Nelson, J.S., Schultze, H.-P. & Wilson, M.V.H. Origin and Phylogenetic Interrelationships of Teleosts. München, Germany : Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil 480 pp. [142]

Williams, R.R.G. 1997. Bones and muscles of the suspensorium in the Galaxioids and Lepidogalaxias salamandroides (Teleostei: Osmeriformes) and their phylogenetic significance. Records of the Australian Museum 49(2): 139-166

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
	ARGENTINIFORMES	23-Feb-2014	ADDED	Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)