LARGE GALAXIID FOSSIL (TELEOSTEI) FROM THE MIOCENE OF CENTRAL OTAGO, NEW-ZEALAND

A fish fossil of Miocene age from the Manuherikia group, from a site n ear Bannockburn in Central Otago, New Zealand, is described and identi fied as a galaxiid, probably genus Galaxias. The fish was large, estim ated at 383 mm, and thus larger than all extant New Zealand Galaxias e xcept G. argenteus, which is known to reach 580 mm. However, it appear s to have been of quite slender form. There was, therefore, in Miocene times, a large, slender, perhaps lacustrine Galaxias in Palaeo-lake M anuherikia in Central Otago.