Canterbury mudfish

Its length is up to 15 cm.

The Canterbury mudfish lives in the demersal, non-migratory, freshwater environment.

The first Canterbury mudfish was originally described by W J Phillipps in 1926, from a sample sent to him by A. Burrows, from the North Canterbury town of Oxford. Its length is up to 15 cm. More

image of map showing records of canterbury mudfish habitat Source: NIWA Atlas of New Zealand Freshwater Fishes This map shows records of Canterbury mudfish habitat from NIWA’s New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database – you can find more information here. More

Canterbury mudfish on the move at the University of Canterbury An ambitious new project is underway in the waterways at the University of Canterbury thanks to Lotteries funding. More

A release of Canterbury mudfish has been carried out in a protected wetland near Willowby, south of Ashburton, New Zealand, where it is hoped they will survive and reproduce. More

The Canterbury mudfish / kōwaro is one of our rarest native fish, and a taonga species to Ngāi Tahu. It is listed as nationally endangered, the second highest threat ranking. More

Canterbury mudfish (Neochanna burrowsius) occur at low elevations in Canterbury, from about Oxford south to the southern banks of the Waitaki River. It was once widespread through the Canterbury Plains, in wetlands that are now largely drained. More

Canterbury mudfish (Neochanna burrowsius) is being celebrated with a mudfish day on Saturday 14 October in Oxford.The day features games, music, poetry, talks, food, drink and lots of fun making it a great excuse for a family run in the country. More

Restoring In-stream Values and Habitat for Canterbury Mudfish in Okeover Stream, Christchurch Leanne O'Brien (Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury) & Rachel Barker (Parks & Waterways Unit, Christchurch City Council) Since the 1990s there has been a changed approach to managing streams More

The endangered Canterbury mudfish are so hardy they can exist by burrowing into mud and breathing through their skin. Although they have been in the area for thousands of years their future is under threat. More

significant population of Canterbury mudfish in Waianiwaniwa River is the result of a combination of unusual conditions where natural fish predators are excluded and competition from other fish species is reduced by poor water quality seasonally. Excerpt from Article: Harding et al. More

Dr O'Brien said the fascination with the Canterbury mudfish was how it managed to survive even after its waterways dried up. It lived in anything from spring-fed creeks to farm water races or stagnant bogs. More

The Canterbury Mudfish prefers lots of cover (aquatic plants) to hide from all their different predators in, and also, to lay all their eggs in. Generally, they have lots of species feeding on them, but their main predators are; Trout, Eels, Herons, and Bitterns. More

Common names

Canterbury mudfish in English
紅新南乳魚 in Mandarin Chinese
红新南乳鱼 in Mandarin Chinese

Order : Osmeriformes
Family : Galaxiidae
Genus : Neochanna
Species : Neochanna burrowsius
Authority : Phillipps, 1926