Maori chief facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maori chief |
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| Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling | |
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The Maori chief (scientific name: Notothenia angustata) is a type of fish. It belongs to a family of fish called notothens. This fish lives in the Southern Ocean. You can find it between New Zealand and Chile. It also lives south towards the Antarctic.
Maori chiefs usually live in waters up to 100 m (330 ft) deep. Young Maori chiefs, called juveniles, often hang out in tide pools. These are small pools of water left behind when the tide goes out.
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Discover the Maori Chief Fish
The Maori chief is a fairly large fish. It can grow up to 41 cm (16 in) long. This fish is a demersal species. This means it lives and feeds near the bottom of the sea. It looks a bit like the Maori cod.
What Does It Look Like?
The Maori chief has a big mouth. It also has a noticeable bony ridge above each eye. Its tail fin is rounded. It has two lateral lines on its body. These lines help the fish sense movement in the water. They overlap slightly. The first dorsal fin on its back is small. It only has six spines.
Maori Chief's Colors
This fish has cool colors. Its upper body is dark grey or green. It has blue-black patches, which are called mottling. Its belly is yellow. You can see many small grey spots and streaks on its head. These patterns look like the detailed tattoos once worn by Māori chiefs. That's how the fish got its name! Its fins are grey with some darker mottling too.
What Does It Eat?
The Maori chief is not a picky eater. It enjoys a variety of foods. It eats many different kinds of invertebrates. These are creatures without backbones, like crabs or worms. It also eats small fishes.
