Stella Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 Am staying at Cape Egmont (the most western-sticky-outy bit of the Taranaki coast) and met this guy who's cat brought in a fish so weird that he had to have it taxidermied. He assumed it was a freshwater fish, but it doesn't look like any freshwater fish I have ever seen. The spines on the upper corner of the gill covers look quite diagnostic, but google isn't being helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 Could be a type of gurnett, I have caught one before, but mine was a little bit more colourful, but looks similar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 looks like a type of scorpion fish, probably deep water by the way the eyes are popping out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 hehe the eyes are popping out because they are fake... it is taxidermied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 ok I google imaged gurnard and I am way off, was even way off with the spelling in my first suggestion, I will google image some more and see what I find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 not a gurnard, gurnards have the front pelvic fin used as feelers, has a nose like a blue cod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 http://www.fishguide.co.nz/index_english.html Have a look here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 maori chief fish? Helicolenus percoides Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 yes it looks like a sea perch did his cat have scuba gear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 I thought the expression was a result of having seen the cat just before it caught it :lol: Can't help with the ID Stella but interesting fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuri08 Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 i think that its some sort of shallow rock dweller perch shape doesnt match i too see cod in there though.im no help either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 Found it...... I think http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we ... ch/scarpee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 I don't know about that. The mouth shape looks wrong but it could be the way it was stuffed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Hypoplectrodes huntii? Redbanded perch gurnard perch jock stewart scarpee can have local variation in colouration from reddish to brown eat anything in a tank that will fit in its mouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 I'd lay money on it being a thornfish, Bovichtus variegatus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I'd lay money on it being a thornfish, Bovichtus variegatus. I think you are correct puttputt http://www.flickriver.com/photos/86445296@N00/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 That looks like what i call a rock cod or brown spotted rock cod. Seem to catch heaps of them when rock fishing and dont know what your're doing. Shockers for swallowing hooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I think you are confusing that with the common hiwihiwi (and they are not a rock cod, common or brown ), thornfish are much more colourful and rare, occasionaly found in wellington, mainly in south island. hiwihiwi Thornfish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 good ID PP a very interesting family of fish http://www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/docume ... roject.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted June 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2012 I'd lay money on it being a thornfish, Bovichtus variegatus. And I think we have a winner!! :thup: The distribution mostly mentions from Wellington southwards, but it may be a similar species or have a wider distribution than expected (or Wikipedia, and the numerous people who copied and pasted from Wikipedia, got it wrong) Thanks so much everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devo Posted June 13, 2012 Report Share Posted June 13, 2012 My first thought was the hiwihiwi, Chironemus marmoratus; We used to catch small ones around the rocks on the Coromandel. http://www.seafriends.org.nz/issues/res ... eed_fishes Possible that one got up into an estuary, or stranded in a rock pool??? Edit...just found a better pic of the hiwihiwi, & they have no spines on the gill covers, so thornfish it is. Interesting species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted June 13, 2012 Report Share Posted June 13, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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