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Project Noah Nature School
Griella cyanea
Large blue fish also known as Blue Drummer. This one about 40cm long but grow up to 75cm. Colour is entirely blue with reddish gold spots along back and flanks. Eye is yellow.The dorsal fin is relatively short, well adapted to the fishes habitat (see below).
Shallow water with tumbled boulders is this species favoured habitat. This fish seen off Raoul Island in the Kermadec island group in the waters off northern New Zealand.
Also found in eastern Australia waters, and around Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. This fish is rarely seen at rest, often swimming with bursts of speed for no apparent reason. The strong tail and long low dorsal fin are well suited to life in shallow turbulent waters.
Spotted on Apr 2, 2016
Submitted on Jun 4, 2017
3 Comments
Thanks Barb. It is a stunning colour!
Thanks for your comment Rach. I only free dive these days and use a little point and shoot underwater camera. To be honest getting a photo of this species was as much luck as design! I was very happy to get this guy in the album though :)
Nice spotting, challenging to photograph in that environment. I didn't realise NZ had any bright blue fish like this!