Large kelpfish
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| Large kelpfish | ||||||||||||||
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| [[image:Chironemus marmoratus.jpg food = gooeuf|frameless|]] |
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Chironemus marmoratus Günther, 1860 |
The large kelpfish, Chironemus marmoratus, is a kelpfish of the genus Chironemus, found in southern Australia, and between North Cape and East Cape on the North Island of New Zealand, in depths down to 30 m. Their length is between 25 and 40 cm.
The large kelpfish is an elongate bottom-living fish with a heavyset body of triangular cross-section, with the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins modified to form supporting props. It is able to remain stationary during the most violent wave action by always facing the water movement and holding its fins closely against the rock.
Large kelpfish are mottled olive and white in colour with a dense overlay of small white spots, very good camouflage against a variety of backgrounds. In the young the olive is replaced by brown-red.
They live in loose groups of from 5 to 30 individuals, usually in a cave or deep crevice with multiple entrances, moving to similar homes in deeper water in the winter. They are carnivorous fishes feeding on a wide range of invertebrates and small fish.
[edit] References
- Chironemus marmoratus (TSN 170246). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 19 March 2006.
- "Chironemus marmoratus". 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
