New Zealand status: Native
Conservation status: Not Threatened
International conservation status: Least concern (IUCN)
Found in: New Zealand’s North, South, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Chatham Island/Rēkohu/ Wharekauri. Common apart from the east coasts of North and South Islands.
Threats: Sedimentation, introduced fish, habitat disturbance and removal of stream-side vegetation.
Appearance and size
Banded kōkopu (Galaxias fasciatus) are a brown-red colour with stripes (bands) across the sides and back of their bodies. Juvenile fish are a golden colour.
Adult fish grow to about 200 mm long but can reach 260 mm.
Where they live
Banded kōkopu live in the pools of small streams with overhanging banks, logs and boulders. They prefer streams with a complete cover of vegetation – but the cover can be pine forest or other non-native trees.
They also need clear water. Banded kōkopu are not found in eastern regions of the North and South Islands. This is thought to be because rivers and streams in these areas have higher levels of sediment from rural development or glacier meltwater.
The juveniles of this species are very good climbers and can even climb the sides of a bucket. Adults are also good climbers and can be found up to 550 m above sea level. They generally live close to the sea.
Like other galaxiids, banded kōkopu eat land-based insects. They are able to detect the ripples made by moths and flies when they land on the water, then swim up and swallow them.
Lifecycle
Banded kōkopu are one of the five species of migratory galaxiid found in Aotearoa.
Migratory galaxiids move between streams, rivers and the sea during their lifecycle.
They are one of the six species caught as whitebait when juvenile fish enter rivers and streams to begin their upstream migration.
Inanga lifecycle
Image: DOC