New Zealand piper
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| Hyporhamphus ihi Phillips, 1932 |
The New Zealand piper, Hyporhamphus ihi, is a halfbeak found all around New Zealand in shallow inshore waters. Its length is between 25 and 35 cm.
The New Zealand piper is an elongate fish with a long beak-like lower jaw and normal length upper jaw, giving it a swordfish appearance. The similar sized and shaped dorsal and anal fins are set far back near the tail, the lower lobe of which is larger than the upper.
New Zealand piper are dark blue-green on the back, paler underneath, with a broad silver band along each flank. They mainly feed on fragments of plant material but also take small crustaceans.
During the summer months the females shed large heavy eggs covered in fine filaments which help to anchor them to the bottom while developing.
These fish are common in shallow harbours, bays, and inlets, usually swimming in schools. They are often preyed on both by gannets and shags, and various types of larger pelagic fish. Anglers can catch them with very light gear and very small hooks, and they are very good eating.
[edit] References
- Hyporhamphus ihi (TSN 616686). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 11 March 2006.
- "Hyporhamphus ihi". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
