From today, keen New Zealanders from around the country will creep out of their homes in the freezing dark morning and take to the rivers armed with waders, swandris and optimistic hearts. This canny lot set up their possies and then wait for luck to strike. To other whitebaiters in the area they give nothing […]
This winter, in a cold, clear stream near you, a certain freshwater crustacean has a heavy load to carry. The female New Zealand freshwater crayfish, or kōura spends the winter months carrying large eggs (up to 200 of them!) attached to the underside of her abdomen. The eggs hatch after 3 or 4 months, but […]
While we head for the indoors as the weather grows colder and wetter, a secretive, eel-like little fish is gearing up for its busiest time of year. The remarkable brown mudfish is one of five mudfish species that are all unique to New Zealand. They are small (up to around 15cm), long and skinny and […]
In lakes, rivers and estuaries throughout New Zealand, groups of aquatic flying carpets are mobilising and moving downstream towards the sea. Late autumn marks the time when a special species of New Zealand flatfish – the freshwater black flounder or patiki – embarks upon a spawning migration to the sea, with juveniles re-entering freshwater and […]
Beneath the water’s surface, in a stream or river near you, a tiny native fish is searching for a rock. It has to be the right size and shape, in the right location in the stream and the right orientation to the current. It also has to be defended from all the other little fish […]
On Friday of last week the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) released a report recommending an immediate cessation of the commercial harvest of the longfin eel, along with the urgent implementation of additional measures to halt the decline of this species. The New Zealand longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) has been increasingly in the limelight […]
In rivers, streams and lakes throughout New Zealand, a certain species of native fish is preparing for one of the most epic journeys known to the animal kingdom. Every year, New Zealand longfin eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii), leave the freshwater environments in which they have spent many years and swim downstream and out to sea, where […]
What is more endangered than our little spotted kiwi, lies at just 5-6 cm in length and comes with a stunning dusting of silvery-gold speckles? Our very own dwarf galaxias – a native fish that is found in the lower half of the North Island and the top half of the South Island. At this time of […]
This summer, keen mollusc-o-philes may be interested in taking advantage of the warmer weather, and getting out and meeting some lesser-known local bivalves. While the kākahi or freshwater mussel may look humble, it has some pretty interesting life history traits. While most mussels expel eggs and sperm for external fertilisation in the water, a mother […]