Mado (fish)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mado | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Photo by Ian Skipworth
|
||||||||||||||
Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
Atypichthys latus McCulloch & Waite, 1916 |
The mado (in New Zealand), or stripy or eastern footballer (in Australia), Atypichthys latus, is a sea chub of the genus Atypichthys, found around southern Australia and the north eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand to depths of about 60 metres, off headlands and offshore islands. Its length is between 15 and 30 centimetres.
The mado is similar in size and shape to the silver sweep but with a slightly flattened dorsal and ventral profile. The body is silvery with prominent dark yellow-brown longitudinal bands, and all the fins are bright yellow. Small individuals act as cleaners, picking parasites off larger fishes.
Mado may be seen in schools around headlands and caves where there is abundant encrusting animals for these grazing fish to feed on.
[edit] References
- Atypichthys latus (TSN 645569). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 11 March 2006.
- "Atypichthys latus". 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