New Zealand Mado, Atypichthys latus McCulloch & Waite, 1916

Introduction

The New Zealand Mado is infrequently seen in northern New South Wales. It looks very similar to the Australian Mado but has a slightly different colour pattern and dorsal and anal fin ray counts.

Identification

The New Zealand Mado can be recognised by its colouration and fin ray counts. It closely resembles the Australian Mado, differing in colour pattern on the nape and dorsal and anal fin ray counts. The New Zealand Mado has 15 dorsal fin rays and 15-16 anal fin rays, while the Australian Mado had 16 dorsal and 16-17 anal fin rays.

Habitat

It lives in areas of rocky reef, from the surface down to a depth of at least 60 m.

Distribution

The species occurs from the islands of northern New Zealand, the Kermadecs, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. It also occurs on the New South Wales coast but is overlooked due to the abundance of the Australian Mado.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

1. Allen, G.R., D.F. Hoese, J.R. Paxton, J.E. Randall, B.C. Russell, W.A. Starck, F.H. Talbot & GP Whitley. l976. An annotated checklist of the fishes of Lord Howe Island. Records of the Australian Museum, 30 (15):365-454.
2. Francis, M.P. 1993. Checklist of the Coastal Fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, south-west Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science. 47 (2):136-170.
3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.