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Fish, Twister

Bellapiscis medius

Fish, Twister

Fish

Chordata

Actinopterygii

Tripterygiidae

Rocky Shore Intertidal
Rocky Shore Intertidal

Feeding:
Predator
Predator
Distribution:
New Zealand
New Zealand
Edibility:
Unknown Edibility
Unknown Edibility
Size:
Hand Sized
Hand Sized



A mottled red-brown colour, sometimes with a greenish tinge. Darker saddles on the back and a dark zig-zag pattern along each side provides excellent camouflage.


Found in rock pools or under rocks or seaweed from mid tide depths of 2 m.. This species does have a home pool and seem to move randomly between pools.


They feed on small crustaceans, worms and molluscs.


This agile species eludes predators by alternately remaining motionless, then rapidly darting to a new location. It’s thought they live for about 2 years.






Photo Credit: Rod Morris. Photos available from www.rodmorris.co.nz
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=46328 (accessed 131/12/10)
Collins Guide to the Sea fishes of NZ: Ayling & Cox