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Kōrero: Oceanic fish

Sunfish

Image
Sunfish

Sunfish are the world’s largest bony fish, and their ancestors have been around for 12 million years. They are mainly found in oceanic waters, but occasionally wash ashore. They occur in northern New Zealand waters, but specimens have been cast up as far south as Otago Harbour. They often drift near the surface, lying on their sides, or swim upright with the dorsal fin projecting above the water – when they may be mistaken for sharks.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Eye on the Sea

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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Carl Walrond, Oceanic fish – Moonfish, flying fish, sunfish and mid-water species, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/8767/sunfish (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Carl Walrond, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.