About Hypseleotris galii (Ogilby, 1898)
Hypseleotris galii is a small fish that is typically greyish or bronze in color, with dark-edged scales and a silver belly. Its exact coloration varies depending on the individual's age, habitat, and season. Males reach a standard length of around 5.5 cm (2.2 in), while females are slightly smaller, reaching around 4 cm (1.6 in). Breeding males are darker than non-breeding individuals, with red edges on their dorsal and anal fins and a reddish-orange caudal fin. Adult females have clear fins and a dark patch around their genitalia; gravid females also develop an orange or pink belly. This species is native to coastal freshwater waterways of eastern Australia, with its native range extending from Water Park Creek in central Queensland to the Georges River in central New South Wales. It is also native to Bribie Island, Fraser Island, Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island. Hypseleotris galii has been translocated to non-native areas within the Murray-Darling basin. It is a demersal species that lives in streams, rivers, floodplains, wetlands, dune lakes, dams, and weirs. In the wild, Hypseleotris galii has a lifespan of two to three years. It feeds mostly on insects and small crustaceans including cladocerans and ostracods, while juveniles feed on zooplankton. This species is oviparous, and spawns between October and January each year. Females lay between 25 and 440 eggs, which they attach to the undersides of leaves, logs, shells, or stones. The male parent guards the eggs until they hatch.
