New Zealand country information

Common names: Moonfish, Opah
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Occurs throughout New Zealand, Chatham Rise and the Subantarctic region (Ref. 89422). Voucher specimen(s) held at the NMNZ. Also Ref. 5188, 45493, 89423.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html
National Fisheries Authority: https://www.fish.govt.nz/
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Paulin, C., A. Stewart, C. Roberts and P. McMillan, 1989
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Lampriformes (Velifers, tube-eyes and ribbonfishes) > Lampridae (Opah)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Опах обыкновеннный, Opa, Ocean moonfish, ... more

Main reference

Palmer, G. 1986. (Ref. 6737)
References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5188); common length : 120 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 270.0 kg (Ref. 5188)

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 500 m (Ref. 89422), usually ? - 366 m (Ref. 5951)

Climate / Range

Deep-water, preferred 23°C (Ref. 107945); 75°N - 60°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribution

Worldwide in tropical to temperate waters (Ref. 57923). Western Atlantic: Grand Banks and Nova Scotia (Canada) to Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies (Ref. 7251) up to Argentina (Ref. 47377). Eastern Atlantic: Norway and Greenland to Senegal (Ref. 6737) and south of Angola (Ref. 6476) also Mediterranean. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of Alaska to south of southern California (Ref. 265). A single capture in South Georgia marks an incidental occurrence in Southern Ocean.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 48-55; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 33 - 41; Vertebrae: 43. Caudal fin broadly lunate; pectorals long and falcate; pelvic fins similar to pectoral fins in shape and a little longer (Ref. 6885). Dark steely blue dorsally shading into green with silver and purple iridescence, belly rosy, body covered with silvery spots in irregular rows, light mottling on caudal and dorsal fins; vermillion on fins and jaws, golden around eyes (Ref. 6885).

Oceanic and apparently solitary (Ref. 6737). Epi- and mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on midwater fishes and invertebrates, mainly squids (Ref. 6737). Probably spawns in the spring (Ref. 6885). Occasionally taken as a by-catch of tuna fisheries. Considered a good food fish (Ref. 5242); marketed fresh and frozen; prepared as sashimi (Ref. 9987). Swims by flapping the pectoral fins (Ref. 36731).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

More information

Countries
FAO areas
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Ecology
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Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
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Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
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Length-weight
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Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
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References
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Special reports

Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.2 ±0.62 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tm>4)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
High vulnerability (60 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high

Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788)