Galaxiella pusilla
# Galaxiella pusilla

The dwarf galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla) is a species of small Australian freshwater fish from the galaxiid family, found only in the states of Victoria and Tasmania.

## Distribution

The dwarf galaxias is now only known to exist in southeastern Victoria from the Mitchell River basin near Bairnsdale in the east to the Melbourne's Dandenong Creek catchment in the west, as well as in northern Tasmania and Flinders Island across the Bass Strait.

### Ecology

Dwarf galaxias are found in shallow, slow-flowing waterbodies with abundant aquatic vegetation, and generally prefer to stay in close proximity to the water's edge where the vegetation covers are. They have a remarkable capacity to travel overland between different wetlands provided there is flowing water no less than 2 cm (0.79 in) deep connecting the ponds.

At sites where water is temporary or partially dried up, dwarf galaxias are thought to undertake some form of aestivation, and are only able to do so when the habitat is also populated with crayfish, whose burrows are utilized by the fish in dry conditions.

