Silver sweep
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| Scorpis lineolata Kner, 1865 |
The silver sweep, Scorpis lineolata, is a sweep of the genus Scorpis, found around eastern Australia and northern New Zealand to depths of about 30 m, over reef areas and off headlands. Its length is between 10 and 30 cm.
In New Zealand this fish was originally assumed to be the Australian sweep, Scorpis aequipinnis, which it very closely resembles.
The silver sweep is similar to the blue maomao but instead has a uniform grey colour with a yellow tinged anal fin. It is a schooling plankton feeder which is often found with blue maomao in loose aggregations over reefs and off headlands.
Breeding takes place in late summer and the juveniles settle in shallow water in July and August with a colouration of shiny green-grey speckled with orange dots. The adult colours are assumed after about 4 months.
[edit] References
- Scorpis lineolata (TSN 646031). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 19 March 2006.
- "Scorpis lineolata". 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
