> Maybe Peter Unmack should start a coldest Australian fish competition.
Not worth it as there are only a couple of possibilities. Galaxias
olidus occurs almost as high as Mount Kosciusko 2173 m, the coldest place
in Australia. I don't know if they live under frozen lakes, but it is
certainly pretty darn cold. Over several years and many trips I never
observed the streams in which G. fuscus occur to rise over 13.5oC,
coolest was 2.5oC. Folks who've had them in aquaria (before it was
illegal) observed that they probably don't survive very well when temps
reach about 20oC. G. fuscus occurs in the Victorian central highlands
in the uppermost reaches of the Goulburn River system. No doubt most of
the high elevation G. olidus populations experience similar conditions.
I don't know what the situation is in Tassie, but you can rest assured
that it would be similar as it is always bloody cold down there! :-)
Tootles
Peter Unmack