Skip to main content

Kōrero: Freshwater fish

Giant kōkopu

Image
Giant kōkopu

The giant kōkopu (Galaxias argenteus) is New Zealand’s largest fish in the family Galaxiidae. The largest known specimen was 58 centimetres long and weighed 2.8 kilograms. More commonly adults are around 30–40 centimetres. They occur widely in lowlands, favouring wetlands and weedy or boggy slow-flowing streams. This fish was captured from Horseshoe Lagoon, South Canterbury, in 2004.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10056099

by Sjaan Chateris

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Bob McDowall, Freshwater fish – More galaxiids, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/11115/giant-kokopu (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Bob McDowall, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.