Īnanga
lay their eggs on land
credit: Amber McEwan
Where you can find them:
Throughout Wairarapa Moana and in other lowland areas with wetlands, rivers and lakes. Native to New Zealand, īnanga can also be found in South Australia and South America.
What they look like:
A small transparent fish with a silvery belly that grows up to 11cm in length. It’s the most common of the five species that we call “whitebait” when they’re young.
Did you know:
After hatching, young īnanga spend the first six months of their lives in the sea, returning to streams and rivers the following spring.