Lion's Mane Jellyfish

Cyanea capillata

Way back in 1870, a Lion's Mane Jellyfish washed ashore in Massachusetts Bay. Jellyfish wash up all the time, but this one was special... this one has a bell that was 7'6" in diameter and tentacles that were nearly 120 ft long! That means that the Lion's Mane Jellyfish might just be the longest animal alive!

The Lion's Mane Jellyfish doesn't always grow that large. In fact, most of the time their bell is only around a few feet wide, and those that live in the warmer waters max out around a foot and a half. Basically, the colder the water the larger they grow! The species is rarely found at latitudes lower than 42 degrees, and are nonexistent in the Southern Hemisphere.

All Lion's Manes, regardless of size, have tentacles that are clustered into eight segments. There are at least 65 tentacles per segment, though there can be as many as 150, and these tentacles can grow over 100ft long!

If you touch the tentacle of a Lion's Mane Jellyfish, you will probably get stung.. which results in blistering, irritation, and muscle cramps. Stings are not thought to be fatal to humans.

---

IUCN Status : Not Evaluated
Location : High latitude oceans
Size : Bell Diameter up to 8.2ft (2.5m)

Classification : Phylum : Cnidaria -- Class : Scyphozoa -- Order : Semaeostomeae
Family : Cyaneidae -- Genus : Cyanea -- Species : C. capillata

Snub-nosed Spiny Eel

Notocanthus chemnitzii

Today's critter, the Snub-nosed Spiny Eel is found in oceans all around the world... well, except for in tropical areas. They prefer colder waters, and are usually found at depths of more than 200m-- though individuals have been found as deep as 2,500m!

Snub-nosed Spiny Eels aren't actually true Eels at all. Though they share the same Class, they belong to two completely different Orders. All members of the Spiny Eel order are deep sea dwellers, and are not quite as long as true Eels are.

The Snub-nosed Spiny Eels are solitary fish, rather than schooling ones. They feed primarily on different Sea Anemones, and have compact, serrated teeth that allow them to get at their meals easier. Colors vary greatly within this species, and they range from shades of tan and brown all the way to slate grey.

We don't know very much about the population size of these deep sea fish, mostly because they live in such remote areas. They are not currently listed by the IUCN.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Oceans Worldwide
Size : Length up to 47in (1.2m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Notacanthiformes
Family : Notacanthidae -- Genus : Notacanthus -- Species : N. chemnitzii

Plotosus Catfish

Plotosus lineatus

Today let's talk about the Plotosus genus, which is made up of nine different species of Eel-Catfish. All nine species can be found in proximity to the Indian Ocean, ranging from Madagascar all the way over to New Guinea. They are typically found in salt water areas, though some do swim up streams and freshwater rivers. One of the species, P. lineatus, is the only Catfish found in Coral Reefs!

These Eel-Catfish are named for their long, slender, eel-like bodies, but from there they vary in appearance. Some have stripes, some are solidly colored, and others have gradient patterns. They even very in size, witht he largest (P. canius) measuring around 1.5m, while some of the others (like P. lineatus) are only about a foot. All species, especially as juveniles, prefer to swim in schools, rather than alone. Some of these groups can number into the hundreds. The schools feeds by trawling the bottom with their barbels, and by stirring up small invertebrates in the substrate.

Eight of the nine Plotosus species are venomous. They have spines on their dorsal and pectoral fins that can be incredibly dangerous. Though it is rare, these stings can be fatal for humans.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Indian Ocean
Size : Length between 14-60in (34-150cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Siluriformes
Family : Plotosidae -- Genus : Plotosus

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

Great Hammerheads are one of the many species of Hammerhead shark. They also happen to be the largest, hence the name.

These Sharks have a massive range and can be found swimming in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. They also migrate seasonally, chasing the cooler waters during the summer months. Great Hammerheads live mostly near coasts, and are not typically found at depths of greater than 300m.

Unlike many of the other Hammerhead species, Great hammerheads are solitary hunters. Stingrays are their favorite prey, but they also feed on bony fish and Cephalopods. Cannibalism has also been documented, as have attacks on humans.

Interestingly, Great Hammerheads give birth to live young. After an 11 month gestational period, the female will give birth to as many as 40 pups!

Illegal fishing, both targeted and bycatch, has hurt Great Hammerhead numbers in some areas. They are currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

---

IUCN Status : Endangered

Location : Tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide

Size : Length up to 11.5ft (3.5m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Chondrichthyes -- Order : Carcharhiniformes
Family : Sphyrnidae -- Genus : Sphyrna -- Species : S. mokarran

Stoplight Loosejaw

Malacosteus niger

Stoplight Loosejaw is the common name for the two species found within the genus Malacosteus. They are a relatively deep-sea dwelling fish, living between 500 and 1,000m down.

The "Stoplight" name derives from the fact that they can produce two different lights from photophores near their eyes. One of these lights is blueish-green, while the other is red. The red light is especially interesting-- most of the other organisms near them cannot see the red light, which lets the Loosejaw hunt secretly and stealthily. (The blue light penetrates further in the water, but can be seen by others).

The "Loosejaw" name is a reference to their interested head. They have a very minimal connection between their head and neck, and can tilt their heads back at normally unnatural angles in order to thrust their long, lower jaws even further forward. These lower jaws have very sharp, pointed teeth that impale prey, after locating it and swiftly darting forward in attack.

Like many deep sea fish, we don't know much about the specific behaviors of the Stoplight Loosejaw. In fact, most of what we know about them comes from dead specimens. Next to nothing is known about their reproduction, but there is some speculation that the lights play a part in courtship.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : Oceans Worldwide
Size : Length around 25cm

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Stomiiformes
Family : Stomiidae -- Genus : Malacosteus

Pale Toadfish

Ambophthalmos angustus

The Pale Toadfish is a deep sea species that belongs to a Saltwater-dwelling Family of fish sometimes called "Fatheads." It's pretty easy to see why-- these underwater creatures have very large heads compared to the rest of their bodies.

This particular Fathead is found only around the islands of New Zealand. Their depth range is usually between 550 and 650m down, though they will occasionally be found both deeper and shallower. They measure around a foot long.

Unfortunately, there is little else known about the pale Toadfish, or even about their entire family! Today's animal article just goes to show how much is still out there in the oceans, waiting to be studied and cataloged! Just this past week an estimate came out saying that only about 1/3 of all the life in the ocean has been named. And the Pale Toadfish shows that even when something is named, it may still not be very well known. There is still so much to learn, and hopefully someday we can come back to this interesting looking animal and know more about it!

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : New Zealand
Size : Length up to 1ft (30cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Scorpaeniformes
Family : Psychrolutidae -- Genus : Ambophthalmos -- Species : A. angustus

Blackspotted Puffer

Arothron nigropunctatus

We've talked about Pufferfish more generally in the past, getting a quick overview of the 121 different members of the Tetradontidae family, but today we'll cover one of these brilliantly colored fish more specifically.

Meet the Blackspotted Puffer, a species that can grow to about 1ft in length that lives in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They also happen to be popular in aquariums due to their friendly looking faces and general lack of agression (though they have some intense care requirements).

Blackspotted Puffers can come in a variety of different colors, including yellow, white, and blue. They always have their namesake black spots, regardless of their overall color. Like all Puffers, they can inflate their bodies to a large size in order to ward off predators.The Puffers themselves are predators in their own right. They feed on Corals, Crustaceans, and various types of Mollusk.

And have I mentioned that these fish are toxic? Eating them can actually cause death!

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Indian and Pacific Oceans
Size : Length up to 1ft (32cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Tetraodontidae -- Genus : Arothron -- Species : A. nigropunctatus

Crocodile Shark

Pseudocarcharias kamoharai

Our final Shark of the week is the Crocodile Shark, a small Mackerel Shark  that can be found in tropical  oceans all around the world. They are the smallest members of their Order, which also contains giants like the Great White and Megamouth Sharks.

Crocodile Sharks grow to lengths of up to 3ft, and can be identified by their slender bodies, large eyes, long gill slits and small dorsal fin. Their large eyes help them to hunt at night, and they also posses a very large liver (up to 1/5 their entire body weight) that helps them to maintain a very neutral buoyancy. The species undergoes daily migrations, moving from deep waters during the day to more shallow hunting grounds at night.

Crocodile Sharks are another one of those interesting Ovoviviparous species. And even more intriguing is that they have litters of 4 pups... two in each uterus. This is a trait not especially common in sharks-- most others have only one pup per uterus.

Because of their small size, Crocodile Sharks are not generally considered dangerous to humans. Man-made structures however? That's a while different story! Back in 1985 AT&T laid down the first deep sea fiber optic cable. The cable was shorting out, and expensive repairs were needed to fix it. Turns out that a bunch of Crocodile Sharks were attracted to the new installation and were biting it!

---

IUCN Status : Near Threatened
Location : Tropical Oceans Worldwide
Size : Length up to 3.3ft (1m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Chondrichthyes -- Order : Lamniformes
Family : Pseudocarchariidae -- Genus : Pseudocarcharias-- Species : P. kamoharai

Indigo Hamlet Fish

Hypoplectrus indigo

Today's animal is a pretty little guy that can be found in the tropical waters of the West Atlantic. Meet the Indigo Hamlet!

There are actually a whole bunch of Hamlet Fish species, all of which belong to the Sea Bass family. I can see the resemblance!

Indigo Hamlets live on Coral Reefs at depths of up to 150ft (45m) and feed on smaller animals like crabs, shrimp, and other fish. They tend to stay near one area of the reef for their entire life and protect it as a home territory.

One really neat fact about eh Indigo Hamlet (and most Hamlets actually) is that they have both male and female genitalia. They perform very intricate and elaborate mating dances, and the fish will take on whichever role is needed! 

Indigo Hamlets can be kept in captivity, but they require larger aquariums due to their territorial nature.

---

IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : West Atlantic
Size : Length 5.5in (14cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Perciformes
Family : Serranidae -- Genus : Hypoplectrus -- Species : H. indigo

Japanese Eel

Anguilla japonica

Japanese Eels, sometimes referred to as Unagi, are creatures that live in both fresh and salt water. They can grow to lengths of around 5ft (1.5m), and have quite a remarkable life story! 

As adults, they live in the freshwater rivers of East Asia. But when the times comes to spawn, the eels travel thousands of miles to a spawning ground near the Mariana Islands. They nearly starve in order to make the trip! After the spawning takes place, the eggs are carried off by currents into the open ocean, where the Japanese Eels hatch and grow through their larval phase. As they get larger and larger the ocean current brings them closer to the continent, where they swim upriver just as their parents did and begin the process anew. 

Unfortunately, Japanese Eel populations have been hit hard in recent years. This is because of their high demand within the food industry and because of changes in the ocean environment. These Eels are placed on the Greenpeace Seafood Red List and are listed as “to avoid” on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Overfishing, destructive fishing techniques, and damaging capture levels for the captive industry make Japanese Eels (and their culinary name, Unagi) a meal to avoid. 

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : East Asia, Pacific Ocean

Size : Length up to 5ft (1.5m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Anguilliformes
Family : Anguillidae -- Genus : Anguilla-- Species : A. japonica

Moon Wrasse

Thalassoma lunare

Today we're going to learn all about the beautifully colored Moon Wrasse, which gets its name from the crescent moon shaped pattern on its tail. They are also sometimes referred to as Lunar Wrasses and Cruscent Wrasses.

In the wild, Moon Wrasses can be found in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They prefer shallow, oxygen rich waters that are no deeper than about 60ft, and are most common in and around Coral Reefs. They are carnivorous, and feed on small invertebrates like crabs and starfish.

Moon Wrasses actually change color as they age, starting out with blueish bodies and black spots, and then becoming green, pink, and blue over time (with those bright yellow crescent tails!) These fish also have the fun distinction of being protogynous hermaphrodites. This means that they all start out as female, and that some will change and become male depending on different environmental triggers. This process only takes 10 days to complete!

Many Moon Wrasses live in small schools that are made up of females, juveniles, a dominant male, and sometimes a few other males as well. The dominant male is often more brightly colored than all of his school mates, and they will nip aggressively to maintain his position in the school and assert leadership. When it comes time to breed, he rounds up the females for a spawning frenzy.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Indian and Pacific Oceans
Size : Length up to 12in (30cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Perciformes
Family : Labridae -- Genus : Thalassoma -- Species : T. lunare

Barnard's Lanternfish

Symbolophorus barnardi

Today's animal is one of those mysterious deep-sea dwellers that we don't often see, despite their massive range and huge population. It is called the Barnard's Lanternfish , and it gets its name from the bioluminescent photophores that allow its head, underside, and tail to light up!

Studies have shown that this Lanternfish, and other members of its family, make up more than half the biomass down in the deep sea, and they live in ocean waters across the globe! Today's species in particular is a small little guy that can be found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, living at depths of up to 3,000ft, though they tend to come up closer to the surface during the night, and can be found in waters as shallow as 350ft.

If the fish can be found in (relatively) shallow waters, why bother diving so far down during the daytime? This behavior takes place in order to avoid becoming someone's dinner. Barnard's Lanternfish are a great food source for larger ocean-dwelling animals, so they dive down to avoid predation when those animals are doing most of their hunting. The Lanternfish then come closer to the surface so that they themselves can feed on the plankton that live there.

---

IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Southern Hemisphere
Size : Body Length up to 6in (15cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Myctophiformes
Family : Myctophidae -- Genus : Symbolophorus -- Species : S. barnardi

Alewife

Alosa pseudoharengus

The Alewife is a member of the herring family that was originally found off of the Atlantic Coast. Though they are still exist in that range, over the last fifty years they have become an invasive species in the Great Lakes.

In the 1950s, Alewives used the Welland Canal in Ontario to get around Niagara Falls and enter the Great Lakes. Around that same time, Sea Lamprey also invaded, killing off many of the large prey species that would have normally consumed the Alewives. Lack of predation allowed the species to spread, and they are now most abundant in Lake Michigan and in Lake Huron.

Though they are still abundant in the Great Lakes, the population is more in check than it once was. This is due to the introduction of predator species like stocked Trout and Salmon. Unfortunately, the Alewives still vie for food (mostly zooplankton) with other fish, and have negatively affected other populations because of that competition.

Atlantic Alewives are anadromous, a term that means the fish live at sea, but come into freshwater to spawn. Great Lakes Alewives obviously live their entire lives in freshwater, though they spawn in more shallow areas, depositing up to 12,000 eggs! The larvae hatch after only a week, and the fish can live 6 to 7 years.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : North America
Size : Length up to 6in (15cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Clupeiformes
Family : Clupeidae -- Genus : Alosa-- Species : A. pseudoharengus

Dwarf Lanternshark

Etmopterus perryi

The 25th Annual Shark Week starts today, so obviously we need to learn about a Shark! Sharks have been very popular on Animal A Day, and we've learned about loads of them in the past (a full list can be found here). But we haven't yet talked about the smallest of all the sharks-- the Dwarf Lanternshark.

Dwarf Lantersharks reach mature lengths of around 7in, and pregnant females can grow a small bit larger, topping out around 8in. They are an ovoviviparous species, and give birth to 2-3 pups at a time.

Not only are these Sharks very small, but they are also quite mysterious. They have only been found in a small section of the Caribbean, off the coat of Colombia and Venezuela. They swim at depths of between 900-1,400ft (274-426m), and are rarely caught or observed.

So little is known about the biology and population size of these tiny sharks that they are listed as "Data Deficient." They have no economic value in the fishing industry and there are no conservation measures being taken.

So unfortunately there isn't a whole plethora of information out there regarding this particular shark, but that's isn't all that surprising considering its small size and tiny range. Stay tuned for a few more sharks during the rest of the week!

---

IUCN Status : Data Deficient
Location : Caribbean
Size : Length up to 7in (18cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Chondrichthyes -- Order : Squaliformes
Family : Etmopteridae -- Genus : Etmopterus -- Species : E. perryi

Three-Striped Damsel

Dascyllus aruanus

The Three-Stripe Damsel is a small, boldly patterned fish found near coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They live at depths of up to 12m.

They measure only around 4in in length, and are named for the three black vertical stripes that run down their bodies.

Three-Stripe Damsels make great starter fish in captivity. They are disease resistant, adapt to many different food types, and can be kept in groups.

It is important to note, however, that each Damsel should have its own rock or area in which to live, because this simulates the habitat that the wild fish have within coral reefs, and it prevents the adult Damsels from being too territorial or aggressive with one another.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : Pacific and Indian Oceans
Size : Length up to 4in (10cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Perciformes
Family : Pomacentridae -- Genus : Dascyllus -- Species : D. aruanus

Atlantic Tarpon

Atlantic Tarpons are large saltwater fish that live in the coastal waters of the (surprise!) Atlantic Ocean. They live on both sides of the ocean, are are typically found in tropical and subtropical waters, though their range extends into Nova Scotia and southern Argentina.

Megalops atlanticus

Atlantic Tarpon are slow growing fish, and don't reach sexual maturity until age 6 or 7. Males can live to around 30, while females can have lifespans of over 50 years! In those decades the fish can grow rather large. Fish measuring 8ft long and 350lbs have been recorded. As adults, Tarpon use their large size to hunt down and swallow other fish whole.

One really cool feature of the Atlantic Tarpon is that it has a modified swim bladder that allows it to gulp down air. This give the fish an advantage when swimming in waters that are low in oxygen. Studies have also suggested that as juveniles, the Tarpon MUST breathe atmospheric air in order to survive.

The Atlantic Tarpon is the State Saltwater Fish of Alabama. Have I mentioned how much I love the concept of official state animals? Not just the state fish (that's the Largemouth Bass), but the Saltwater Fish. My home state of Wisconsin has eight different official animals, including an official dog, and official "wildlife animal." Love it.

Atlantic Tarpon are also very popular with anglers. This is not only due to their large size, but also due to their fighting spirit when caught on a line. The Tarpon aren't fished commercially, but they do generate a great deal of the money for the sport fishing tourism industry. They are typically released after being caught, but there is some debate regarding the ability of the returned fish to successfully recover from the stress and oxygen depravation.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Atlantic Ocean
Size : Length up to 8.3ft (2.5m), Weight up to 350lbs (161kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Elopiformes
Family : Megalopidae -- Genus : Megalops -- Species : M. atlanticus

Irish Lord Fish

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Ten Lords a'leaping...

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus

Finally, a fish makes it to our list! Though I must say, when I mentally picture a lord, it looks nothing like this odd ocean dweller.

The common name of this fish is a little confusing. Despite being called the Red Irish Lord, they are not native to anywhere even remotely close to Ireland; they are found in the Pacific Ocean! They also comes in many, many colors besides red, and can even change color to match their surroundings. How perplexing!

Red Irish Lords may look a bit familiar to you. They are members of the large Scopaeniformes superfamily, which also includes Rockfish. Like the Rockfish, Red Irish Lords are carnivores. They live close to shore on rocky reefs at depths of less than 1,500ft (450m) and hunt crustaceans, mussels, and barnacles by waiting patiently and them ambushing them.

Red Irish Lords are also pretty good dads! After mating, the females will lay her eggs and leave. The males however, sticks around and guards over them until they hatch.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Northern Pacific Ocean
Size : Length up to 20in (51cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Scorpaeniformes
Family : Cottidae -- Genus : Hemilepidotus -- Species : H. hemilepidotus

Horn Shark

Heterodontus francisci

Today's Shark is a very interesting looking species-- it has a very blunt head, prominent ridges over its eyes, two tall dorsal fins with spines, and a sandy colored body covered in dark spots. It also happens to be on the smaller side, though not as small as yesterday's Shark. Horn Sharks can reach lengths of around 3ft.

You can find Horn Sharks swimming off of the western coast of North America, in a range that extends from Monterey to Baja. As juveniles they live in deeper sandy flats, and as adults they move closer to shore, swimming near reefs as shallow as 2m!

The adult Horn Sharks have small ranges, and actually return to the same shelter after each night of hunting (they are nocturnal). They feed in small fish and a large variety of benthic invertebrates, including squid, crabs, and sea urchins. Interestingly, Horn Sharks aren't the greatest swimmers, and are quite slow and clumsy. They often use their large pectoral fins to pull themselves along.

Horn Sharks are one of those cool Shark species that shows some sort of care towards their offspring. After mating takes place in December or January, the female will spend 2-3 months laying her eggs two at a time (layings are spaced 11-14 days apart). Each egg measures 4-5in long, is conical in shape and has spiraled flanges around it. The females will take the eggs and wedge them into crevices so that they are protected from predators (other sharks will often just lay their eggs and leave). The eggs take 6-9 months to hatch.

Horns Sharks are not normally dangerous to humans, though bites have happened due to harassment. The Sharks are kept and bred in captivity, and are sometimes hunted for their spines (which are made into jewelry).

---

IUCN Status : Data Deficient
Location : Western North America
Size : Length up to 3.3ft (1m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Chondrichthyes -- Order : Heterodontiformes
Family : Heterodontidae -- Genus : Heterodontus -- Species : H. francisci

Cabezon

Scopaenichthys marmoratus

The Cabezon is a fish whose name means "Big Head," and their genus actually translates to "Scorpion Fish," though it is interesting to note that they are not actually true Scorpion Fish. Those animals belong to a completely different family.

Cabezon can be found in the shallow, rocky, kelp-bed waters off of the Pacific Coast of North America, running all the way from Baja to southern Alaska. They can grow to pretty substantial sizes, with the largest ever caught growing just short of a meter. Size actually determines their sexual maturity-- males are mature at 13.5in, while females are at 17.5in. A small female can lay over 50,000 eggs in a breeding season, and the males will actually guard those eggs until they hatch!

You can identify a Cabezon by their mottled red, green, and brown bodies. Most reddish fish are male, and most greenish fish are female. As the name suggests, they have large heads relative to the rest of their body, and sport 11 spines on their dorsal fins. They also have no scales! Crabs make up about half of the Cabezon diet, with Fish and Mollusks filling in the other half.

Cabezon are often taken as game fish in California. They are said to have an excellent taste (especially when compared to how ugly they are!) However, do not eat the eggs! Cabezon roe is poisonous.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Pacific Coast of North America
Size :  Length up to 40in (1m), Weight up to 25lbs (11kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Scorpaeniformes
Family : Cottidae -- Genus : Scorpaenichthys-- Species : S. marmoratus

Hoki

So have you ever wondered where the fish in your sandwiches comes from? Would you be surprised to find out that one of the most popular commercially served species is a weird looking, skinny fish that lives at depths of around 3,300ft (1000m)?

Macruronus novaezelandiae

Meet the Hoki (or Blue Grenadier), the fish responsible for the McDonalds Filet O' Fish. Found around Australia and New Zealand, this slender, relatively deep sea dweller is considered by many to be a model of sustainable fishing. However, in 2009 a New York Times article questioned the Hoki fishing practices in New Zealand. While the country disputed the article, they did end up lowering the yearly quota by 2/3. Around 11 million pounds of Hokia re used by just McDonalds every year.

Hoki are actually related to Cod, which makes the food popularity less surprising. They live in schools and feed on other deep-ish sea creatures. They are also relatively longed lived for a fish, and have a lifespan of up to 25 years. When it comes time to breed, females can lay up to 1 million eggs at a time!

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : Australia and New Zealand
Size : Length up to 45in (114cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Gadiformes
Family : Merlucciidae -- Genus : Macruronus-- Species : M. novaezelandiae