Small fish up to 10cm long that was once abundant and widespread throughout the higher parts of the Murray Darling Basin and Gulf streams. Today this species remains widespread but is less common.

It is threatened by the presence of trout- in some areas it is found only where trout is not. The Mountain galaxias feeds on aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms. Where vegetation is found overhead, the Mountain galaxias will also eat terrestrial insects and spiders.