Tuna kūwharuwharu

have been reported up to 40kg

Where you can find them:

In cold, clean lakes and rivers. These tuna migrate between freshwater and the sea to breed. You can find them in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean – as far away as Tonga!

What they look like:

The largest freshwater eel species in the world, individuals can weigh over 20 kilograms and can grow up to two metres long. Dark in colour with a yellowish belly, the longfin eel gets big wrinkles when it bends.

Did you know:

They breed in the Pacific Ocean just once at the end of their lives. When the young eels return to New Zealand, they may need to climb waterfalls up to 20 metres tall to find a home.