The "Garnai fish" refers to a vibrant group of small freshwater fish often dubbed the “flying fish of rivers,” though this name is more poetic than literal. Native to Australia, these species—such as purple-spotted and empire gudgeons—inhabit rivers, streams, lakes, and billabongs with sandy or gravelly bottoms and plentiful aquatic vegetation. Their elongated bodies, sometimes adorned in hues of red, orange, yellow, or blue, make them captivating to both aquarists and nature lovers vocal.media+1ebnw.net+1.
Despite the fantastical lore that Garnai fish can “fly in the air” or “walk on land,” these claims are more TikTok myth than biological fact tiktok.com+1ebnw.net+1. In truth, they are adept swimmers and climbers among submerged roots, often darting through dense vegetation. Ranging from around 5 to 15 cm (some reaching up to 20 cm), they are omnivorous—feeding on small invertebrates, plant matter, and algae—and play important roles in nutrient cycles in their freshwater ecosystems youtube.com+12ebnw.net+12en.wikipedia.org+12.
Breeding behavior in Garnai fish is especially fascinating: males undergo dramatic color transformations during courtship. They perform stylized displays to attract females and spawn in shallow waters. Many species then guard their eggs and fry, a testament to their surprising degree of parental care—far from being cast-off breeders ebnw.net. However, like many freshwater species, they face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species, leaving some populations vulnerable—a call to conserve both their colorful presence and ecological significance ebnw.net.
落人魚（Garnai fish）
“落人魚”指的是一群色彩繽紛的小型淡水魚，儘管被貼上「河流中的飛魚」稱號，但這更像是一種詩意化的稱呼，而非真實飛行。牠們原生於澳洲，棲息於河川、溪流、湖泊和水潭，偏好沙礫底質與豐富水生植被。體型修長，常見紅、橙、黃、藍等鮮豔色彩，深受水族愛好者與自然迷的喜愛。
雖然有流傳稱「落人魚會在空中飛」、「能在陸地行走」，這些只是網路傳說，缺乏生物學依據。實際上，牠們是擅長游泳的小能手，常穿梭於水草與淺灘之間，體長一般5–15 厘米，有些種類能長到20 厘米左右。作為雜食性魚類，牠們以小型無脊椎動物、藻類和植物碎屑為食，並在淡水生態系中扮演重要養分循環者的角色。
在繁殖行為上，落人魚亦十分迷人：雄魚在求偶時會出現顏色劇變，並通過優雅的鳍羽展示吸引雌魚。他們在淺水區域產卵，多數種類還會看護卵與幼魚，呈現出罕見的親代護育行為。然而，由於棲地喪失、水質污染與外來物種入侵，部分族群已面臨危機；保護落人魚即是維護這些生態系中一道鮮活且多彩的風景。
