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

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

A small bullet-shaped fish with a long and somewhat flattened head and long snout. The dorsal fin is rounded and quite long with its origin above the pelvic fins. The tail is forke

Colour pattern may be masked by a general dark grey to black colouration over the back and sides. Markings are a series of dark bands and blotches extending down the sides, whilst the under side is greyish-white. The fins have no markings

Can grow up to 75 mm, but commonly only about 50 mm long.

This species can only be found in Great Lake, Shannon Lagoon, the Shannon River and Penstock Lagoon. The two lagoons are artificial impoundments and their populations may have been derived from those in Great Lake. The Great Lake paragalaxias occurs in the same lakes, but the Shannon paragalaxias is more common around the lake margins. In an aquarium it is active and swims in mid-water rather than resting on the bottom

The whole life cycle is completed in freshwater. Spawning occurs in summer and the eggs are deposited under rocks in shallow water around the lake margins. The eggs take several weeks to develop and, upon hatching, the larvae are about 8.5 mm long. The larvae probably live in the open waters for about 6 months before joining the adults in the lake shallows. Both sexes become mature at the end of the first year and may live for up to three years.

Adults are found during the day in cover around the lake margins, under rocks, debris or vegetation. They may emerge at night to feed in mid-water.

The diet consists of a wide range of aquatic invertebrates particularly midge and caddis larvae and various crustaceans.

Water level changes in Great Lake, the possible presence of redfin perch (Perca fluvatilis) in Great Lake; trout predation.