DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE DWARF INANGA GALAXIAS-GRACILIS (TELEOSTEI, GALAXIIDAE) AN ENDEMIC FISH OF NORTHLAND DUNE LAKES

Surveys of 27 Northland lakes revealed two new locations for Galaxias gracilis but confirmed its restricted geographical distribution. It is now present in 11 lakes on the west coast of the North Island within 50 km of Dargaville, and in Lake Ototoa on the South Kaipara Head, whe re it was introduced in 1986. Densities of G. gracilis were determined by nocturnal fyke netting in the littoral zone of the North Kaipara l akes. It was abundant in two of these lakes, common in two, rare in fi ve, and extinct or close to it in at least three others. We conclude t hat G. gracilis has one of the most restricted geographical distributi ons of any New Zealand native fish, and that its densities have declin ed in over 80% of the lakes from which it has been recorded. Although trout predation could account for the current low density of G. gracil is in three lakes, it is not responsible for low densities in six othe rs. Factors responsible for the decline of this species are therefore unknown, so it is a threatened species in terms of its conservation st atus.