Want delight after the Gollum fish found on Southland Stream

Named after Lord of the Rings Character Gollum, the GOLLUM GALAXIAS The fish are known for their large eyes, short and tight body and rounded and blunt muzzle.

Pat Hoffman, Forest Guard of Doc River, said it was an exciting discovery. In the right light, the fish seemed to have a golden shine.

“They are named Galaxies Because he reminded the person who named them from stars. I think they are very cute. “

In a more serious note, they were threatened with extinction and nationally vulnerable.

“Very exciting to find another population in this stream, they were not officially recorded before, so it was a good discovery.”

The stream is in a watershed intensively with low native vegetation.

“So we were quite surprised to find them in so many places.”

The fish didn’t seem to care about living in a slow stream, Hoffman said.

It was not known much about the total number of Gollum Galaxias; However, in the past, they had been seen in the lowest places on the South Island, including Stewart Island, the Catlins, other parts of Southland and the Clutha River in Otago.

Doc expected him to continue working with farmers, Manu Whenua and the advice to protect the habitat from fish in these areas, Hoffman said.