inanga
Galaxias maculatus
A small fish of rivers, lakes and estuaries in Chile and Argentina, which runs down from the rivers on the autumn high tide to spawn. It is used as bait and is caught for sport.
Also called: galáxia-manchada, puye, inanga
- maximum
- 19 cm
who is the inanga
The spotted galaxias is a fish of the family Galaxiidae, a group of small freshwater and estuarine fish. It reaches 19 cm and lives in rivers, lakes and brackish waters, preferring still or slow-flowing water. It occurs in Chile, from the Valparaíso valley to the far south, and in Argentina, in isolated Patagonian lakes, as well as the Falkland Islands. It feeds on insects and crustaceans. It goes down to estuaries to spawn in the vegetation flooded by high tide. It is used as bait and is also caught for sport.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the inanga.
fun facts
- The young spend 5 to 6 months at sea before returning to the rivers in spring.
identification
A small, elongated fish of freshwater and brackish waters. The scientific name, maculatus, means spotted, and recalls its patterned body. Adults live in rivers and lakes near the sea and go down to estuaries during the spawning season, in autumn. Its life tied to rivers and tides is the main trait for recognizing it among other small fish of the southern continent.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it occurs in Chile, from the Valparaíso valley to southern Tierra del Fuego, and in Argentina, in isolated Patagonian lakes, as well as the Falkland Islands.
Habitat: Rivers, lakes and estuaries, in still or slow-moving water near the sea.
rules for the inanga
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It poses no danger to people. Handle it with wet hands and return it to the water quickly.
in the kitchen
It is used fresh and eaten fried.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00501, b = 3.16; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Galaxias maculatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Galaxias maculatusNames by country and language.