Relationships of Galaxioid Fishes with a Further Discussion of Salmoniform Classification

Study of the osteology of the nominal families Retropinnidae, Galaxiidae, and Aplochitonidae shows that the Retropinnidae and Galaxiidae are natural phyletic units, and good families. The family Aplochitonidae is shown to be an assemblage of genera, of which Prototroctes is closely related to Retropinna, while Aplochiton and Lovettia are much more similar to Galaxias. The family Aplochitonidae is therefore divided into Prototroctidae (Prototroctes) and Aplochitonidae (Aplochiton and Lovettia). These fishes form a quite compact southern temperate radiation which is related to and comparable with the northern temperate diadromous salmoniform fishes. Relationship appears to be closest with the Osmeroidei.