DESCRIPTION AND REDESCRIPTION OF GALAXIAS SPECIES (TELEOSTEI, GALAXIIDAE) FROM OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND

There are two distinct genotypes and morphotypes of fish belonging to Galaxias vulgaris Stokell (sensu Into) in narrow sympatry in Healy Str eam, a tributary of the Kye Burn in the Taieri River system, northeast ern Otago. Therefore the present taxonomy of the species misrepresents the diversity of these fish. Analysis of allozymes using gel electrop horesis indicates at least four groups of populations. The mio sympatr ic forms are clearly distinct species; the taxonomic status of the oth er geno- and morphotypes is more equivocal, but three species are reco gnised and described or redescribed here, on the basis of morphologica l and genetic evidence: 1) Galaxias vulgaris Stokell (type locality: R ubicon River, Waimakariri River system, North Canterbury), present in and north of the Waitaki River; 2) G. anomalus Stokell (type locality: a drain tributary of the Manuherikia River, between Ophir and Omakau, Clutha River), present in the Clutha and Taieri Rivers in Otago, in t he rivers of Southland as far west as the Waiau River; 3) G. depressic eps n.sp. (type locality: Healy Creek, tributary of the Kye Burn, Taie ri River system) also present in the Clutha and Taieri Rivers, the Kak anui River in north Otago, and all the rivers of Southland also as far west as the Waiau River. Other populations in Otago are also variousl y distinct genetically or morphologically from the above three species . Decisions on their taxonomic status await further study.