New Zealand brill

New Zealand brill
New Zealand brill
Conservation status
Not evaluated
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Family: Pleuronectidae
Genus: Colistium
Species: C. guntheri
Binomial name
Colistium guntheri
(Hutton, 1873)

The New Zealand brill, Colistium guntheri, is an edible flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. It is a demersal fish native to shallow seas around New Zealand, at depths of between 27 metres (89 ft) and 49 metres (161 ft). It can grow to 91 centimetres (36 in) in length and can weigh up to 1.8 kilograms (4.0 lb).[1][2]

Identification

The New Zealand brill is a righteyed flounder and so has both its eyes on the right-hand side of its body. Its upper surface is dark grey in colour, with its edges and fins almost black; the outer edge of each scale is black, which explains the longitudinal black lines that occur along the length of the body.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Colistium guntheri". Fishbase. 5 June 2009. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=12955. Retrieved 2009-06-17. 
  2. ^ a b Manikiam, John (December 1969). "A Guide to The Flatfishes (Order Heterosomata) of New Zealand". Tuatara: Journal of the Biological Society 17 (3): 118–129. http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Bio17Tuat03-t1-body-d3.html#Bio17Tuat03-fig-Bio17Tuat03_125a. Retrieved 2009-06-18.