Blue maomao
(Scorpis violacea)
Image source: Jo's Animal Database
General data
The blue maomao is native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean from Australia to New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands, where it can be found in inshore waters from the surface to depths of 30 m (98 ft).
This fish can reach a length of 40 cm (16 in).
It is commercially important and is also a popular game fish.
The blue maomao has a laterally, compressed and relatively deep body with a noticeably forked tail. They have protrusible jaws, equipped with a number of rows of small, closely set teeth, which are used to capture larger zooplankton.
The adults are deep blue dorsally and pale ventrally, at night they change colour to a mottled dark green. The juveniles are grey with a yellow anal fin.
The dorsal fin has 9 spines and 27 soft rays and the anal fin has 2 spines and 25 soft rays.
