EMIGRATING LARVAE OF KOARO, GALAXIAS-BREVIPINNIS GUNTHER (TELEOSTEI, GALAXIIDAE), FROM THE OTIRA RIVER, NEW-ZEALAND

Fish larvae were collected in stream benthic invertebrate drift nets f rom the Otira River, near Arthur's Pass, New Zealand during a study of benthic drift. They are identified as probably those of koaro (Galaxi as brevipinnis Gunther) on the basis of estimates of myomere counts (i ndicating Galaxiidae or Retropinnidae); by a process of elimination of likely species on the basis of distance up stream, elevation, and hab itat characteristics; and by determining fish species in the Otira Riv er tributaries upstream of the sampling location. This comprises the f irst likely record of emigrating larvae of koaro, a species known to b e diadromous by the return migrations from the sea of whitebait juveni les during spring. A newly hatched larva of koaro is described and fig ured.