Opalfish

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The opalfish (Hemerocoetes monopterygius) is a duckbill of the genus Hemerocoetes, found only around New Zealand, at depths of between 5 and 200 metres. Their length is between 10 and 25 centimetres.

The opalfish is a long slender fish of round cross-section, with a flattened snout giving rise to the family name of duckbill. The dorsal and anal fins are long and high, and the caudal fin has pointed lobes the upper having a long filament in large specimens. The mouth contains many minute bands of teeth in each jaw which are used to grasp the small crustaceans and fishes which are its diet.

Body colour is pale brown above with short dark bars on the back, and a silvery belly. There are iridescent blue and orange markings on the head and flanks, and blue bands on the dorsal and anal fins.

Opalfish are found all around New Zealand, but are most abundant off the east coast of Northland.

References

[Hemerocoetes monopterygius (TSN 171012)]. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 18 April 2006.
"[Hemerocoetes monopterygius]." 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
Wade Doak, A Photographic Guide to Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 2003) ISBN 1-877246-95-6

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