Listed as 'Endangered' under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.

Listed as 'Extinct in the wild' under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

This species is totally protected and may not be taken without a permit.

A medium sized freshwater fish with a slender elongated body and a flattish head. As in all galaxias, there are no scales present. They have a single soft-rayed dorsal fin on their back and the posterior edge of the tail fin is straight. The front edge of the anal fin is behind the midpoint of the dorsal fin. Upper and lower jaws are about equal

Greenish brown, the back and sides covered with distinct but very irregular dark blotches extending to the fleshy bases of the dorsal, tail and anal fins. The belly is off-white. Gold iridescence is often evident

Adults usually range in length from 75-120 mm, but may grow up to 160 mm

The Pedder galaxias is Australia's most endangered freshwater fish species. It is naturally found only in south-west Tasmania in Lake Pedder and its tributary streams, and was reported as common before Lake Pedder was flooded for hydro electricity in the early 1970s. During the 1980s the population sharply declined to the point where the species is now apparently extinct within its natural range. To save the species from extinction, 31 individuals were moved to a nearby lake in 1991-92 and recent surveys by the IFS have confirmed that a small breeding population has established there

Spawning occurs in spring as water temperatures begin to rise. Eggs are laid under flat rocks, aquatic vegetation and submerged woody debris. Breeding first occurs between 3-4 years of age. It is likely that the original lake served as a nursery area for the larvae and juveniles, which live in open water

Prior to the inundation of Lake Pedder, juveniles could be seen swimming around the lake shores in large schools. Adults inhabited the lake and surrounding swamps and streams. They preferred rock and boulder habitat and were found amongst cover in streams entering the lake. The last collected individuals lived in these tributary streams

Feeds on small aquatic and terrestrial insects and aquatic crustaceans

Destruction of the original habitat; Predation and competition by introduced species. The translocated population is now the only known breeding population