Mohoao, black flounder
can change colour
credit: Amber McEwan
Where you can find them:
In the Ruamāhanga River as far inland as Masterton.There was once so many mohoao in Lake Wairarapa that it was fished commercially, however these days they are far less common.
What they look like:
Dark coloured with red spots, black flounder can grow up to 45cm in length. They have flat bodies and lie on their side, with both of their eyes on top.
Did you know:
When they’re born they swim upright like a regular fish and have eyes on each side of their head. Once they’re about a centimetre long, one eye migrates to the other side, and the fish sinks to the bottom to spend their life as a flat fish.