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