INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OUR FRESHWATER FISH

IN PLAIN SIGHT

Pātiki mohoao (Black flounder) can camouflage by changing colour to match its surroundings.

LINKS:

Science learning hub

Pātiki mohoao PDF

Taonga Species_Patiki LOW RES.pdf

CLIMBING ELVERS

Juvenile eels are known as elvers and can climb up verticle walls provided the surface is rough and wet.

LINKS:

Elvers climbing - teara.govt.nz

Video: climbing Eels and other fish

Science learning hub

SALEFIN MOLLY

Found in the thermal waters of lake Taupo the Salefin Molly is the only tropical fish in New Zealand. These are females, the males have larger dorsal fins.

LINKS:

Teara website on Coarse fish

Otoliths age fish

Fish earbones are called Otoliths and can tell the age and other information about the fish by rigs or lines, a little like the rings on tree trunks.

LINKS:

NIWA -science website