Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 200 m (Ref. 9563). Temperate; 29°S - 47°S, 113°E - 176°W
Indo-West Pacific: New Zealand and Australia (southern Western Australia to New South Wales and Tasmania).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 31.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9563); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9258)
Inhabits rocky weedy areas from the shore to at least 60 m. Generally solitary but may aggregate in groups of 10-15 individuals in midwater. Feeds mainly on sessile and encrusting organisms, with sponges and ascidians predominating (Ref. 26966); also seen feeding mid-water on zooplankton and likes to bite diver's fingers (Ref. 9002).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Armitage, R.O., D.A. Payne, G.J. Lockley, H.M. Currie, R.L. Colban, B.G. Lamb and L.J. Paul (eds.), 1994. Guide book to New Zealand commercial fish species. Revised edition. New Zealand Fishing Industry Board, Wellington, New Zealand, 216 p. (Ref. 9258)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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