| Blue moki | |
|---|---|
| Blue Moki head | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Latridae |
| Genus: | Latridopsis |
| Species: | L. ciliaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Latridopsis ciliaris (Forster, 1801) |
|
The blue moki, Latridopsis ciliaris, is a trumpeter of the genus Latridopsis, found in New Zealand and occasionally off south-eastern Australia at depths from 0-231 meters. Its length is between 50 and 90 cm and it can weigh over 10 kg.
Blue Moki are not actually closely related to their namesake Red Moki.
Blue Moki in New Zealand occur throughout mainland waters from the Three Kings Islands to the southern edge of the Snares Shelf, and at the Chatham Islands. There is a single record of Blue Moki from the southern end of the Kermadec Island chain, but this requires verification; it is not known if the species occurs elsewhere in the Kermadecs. Blue Moki are also found in small numbers at the Auckland Islands.
They are caught commercially and recreationally, often with small shellfish or crayfish baits.