The Chatham mudfish (Neochanna rekohua), formerly known as the Chathams galaxias (Galaxias rekohua), is a galaxiid fish endemic to two small, peaty lakes in southern Chatham Island, New Zealand.
| Chatham mudfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Galaxiiformes |
| Family: | Galaxiidae |
| Genus: | Neochanna |
| Species: | N. rekohua |
| Binomial name | |
| Neochanna rekohua (C. P. Mitchell, 1995) | |
 | |
| Approximate known distribution of the Chatham mudfish on a map of the Chatham Islands | |
It was discovered in 1994 by Charles P. Mitchell, who initially placed it in the genus Galaxias, and gave it the species name rekohua after the Moriori word for the Chatham Islands.[3] In 2004, R.M. McDowall reassigned it to Neochanna based on its external anatomy, behaviour, and skeleton,[4] and this was subsequently supported by a genetic analysis.[5]
The Chatham mudfish is the most Galaxias-like of all the mudfishes, with a short body and small pelvic fins, and is closely related to the Canterbury mudfish.[6] Neochanna rekohua averages 75 mm (3.0 in) (though the largest individuals can reach 175 mm (6.9 in), and is a dark mottled brown. It only lives on the edges of a few peaty lakes amongst submerged wood, so is naturally uncommon, but abundant in the few spots where it occurs.[6]
As of 2014, the IUCN indicated that the Chatham mudfish was a least-concern species.[1] In 2025 this species was classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification System as being "At Risk" and having a conservation status of "Naturally Uncommon".[7][2]
References
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- 1 2 West, D.; Ling, N.; Crow, S.; David, B.; Franklin, P.; Closs, G.; Hitchmough, R.; Surrey, G. & Cooper, D. (2014). "Neochanna rekohua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014 e.T8818A3147332. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T8818A3147332.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- 1 2 Nicholas Rex Dunn; Gerard Closs; Shannan Crow; et al. (November 2025). Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater fishes, 2023 (PDF). Vol. 46. Department of Conservation. ISBN 978-1-0670773-6-5. ISSN 2324-1713. Wikidata Q137213340.
{{cite book}}:|journal=ignored (help) - ↑ Mitchell, C.P. (1995). "A new species of Galaxias (Pisces, Galaxiidae) from Chatham Island, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 25 (1): 89–93. Bibcode:1995JRSNZ..25...89M. doi:10.1080/03014223.1995.9517484.
- ↑ McDowall, R.M. (2004). "The Chatham Islands endemic galaxiid: A Neochanna mudfish (Teleostei: Galaxiidae)". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 34 (3): 315–331. Bibcode:2004JRSNZ..34..315M. doi:10.1080/03014223.2004.9517769.
- ↑ Waters, J.M.; McDowall, R.M. (2005). "Phylogenetics of the Australasian mudfishes: evolution of an eel-like body plan". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37 (2): 417–425. Bibcode:2005MolPE..37..417W. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.07.003. PMID 16137896.
- 1 2 McQueen, Stella; Morris, Rod (2013). A Photographic Guide to Freshwater Fishes of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-86966-386-5.
- ↑ "Neochanna rekohua (Mitchell 1995)". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
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