#nz longfin eel

[thecatspasta]

@fishpostings

IMPORTANT QUESTION.

Favourite kind of fish? Favourite species of fish?

Mine are eels, specifically spotted snake eels (they're very pretty) and gulper eels (they're really interesting) and green moray eels (i've seen some in the wild) with honorary mentions to nz longfin eels (i've seen many in the wild because they are everywhere, also they are some really cool fish), how about yours?

Also what are your opinions on crabs?

[anabantoidei]

I went for a hike and found some wet puppies. Very cute but keep your dogs on a leash ffs

[anguilliforme]

i know im on the people loving freaky animals website but you people need to understand that a lot of attention for animal conservation is driven by how ""traditionally cute"" or likeable animals are to the general public. yes eels ARE cute i agree! theyre my favourite animal!! i love their little faces, and the way the move, and the way they open and close their mouths with empty stares but if i mention how amazing eels are to a random person i reckon 85% of the time they give me looks like they have absolutely no idea where they're coming from.

if you showed the general public a picture of a new zealand longfin eel and a hector's dolphin (both endangered, both found only in NZ) and asked which species should get more conservation funding i can near guarantee the general consensus would be that the dolphin deserves more. just because it's more appealing to the human eye. that's why im so mad. both of these creatures are important, neither deserves to go extinct. but people don't pay attention to the slimy writhers, they like the ones that are cute or cool or useful.

this is a tired rant from someone who's getting people misreading their post, but i see it in so many conservation workers or people who work with endangered species. lovers of plants or parasites or beetles or any number of amazing species that have their plight ignored by the general public for not being one of the pretty ones. we need to separate an animals usefulness from how many people like the way it looks.

[catboybiologist]

hihi dyk what species of marine life these scrunklies are :3

+ What's your fav eel species

Leopard seal

Some kind of chimera/ratfish/rattail

Grey seal? Weddell seal?

Cusk eel possibly?

Fav eel species, at least for true anguillids, has gotta be the NZ longfin

[anomalocaris-here]

(you should definitely make a list of favorite fish)

I'm not super familiar with fish from the southwest Pacific, but here's some VERY brief reasarch:

New Zealand is home to 51 freshwater fish species, and about 1400 marine species. The region is a hotspot for marine biodiversity due to the wide range of environments, caused in large part by significant temperature differences between different regions of the country. Some personal favorite fish species from the region:

-New Zealand longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii)

-Hoodwinker sunfish / Deep-sea giant sunfish (Mola tecta)

-Twister (Bellapiscis medius)

I included the articles I read below (both from the NZ government) if you want to do some further reading. Always good to see a new fish enthusiast!

And for a random fish: the chimaera!

Also called ghost sharks (they're not actually sharks), chimaera live in the deep sea and use sensory organs on their face to detect movement in lightless water. Their name supposedly comes from lines on their body making them look "stitched together".

sources:

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/freshwater-fish/

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/habitats/marine/new-zealands-marine-biodiversity/

https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/creaturesofthedeep_chimaera/

I know nothing about fish.

I like fish for their aesthetics. I like fish because swimmy. I like fish because cute.

I like fish because HELL YEAH BROTHERRRR THAT'S A FUCKIN FISH.

I do not have a lot of fish trivia. I want to learn more fish trivia.

I know a lot about this one species of eel, so :D

If anyone wants to give me random fish trivia and infodump in my notes, I'm open for it :3

And if anyone can tell me about fish local to Oceania/the southwest Pacific/New Zealand then PLEASE.

I should make a list of my favourite fish.

[eeldaily]

Anguilla dieffenbachii photographed by Nathanael Boehm

[bubbues]

If you aren’t constantly thinking about nz longfin eels then you better get on that

[rrroc3]

Temporary installation in Emmanuel Church West Hampstead for the upcoming exhibition at St Paul's Cathedral. This installation is only half the actual length. The finished installation is over 9 metres.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4EREN20dL8

[crabussy]

HI. I have autism and aotearoa is one of my special interests you are asking the RIGHT GUY

so, since aotearoa was colonised by europeans, a lot of the food people eat is very similar to what you might have in europe or america. our stereotypical dish that countless good natured jokes are made about is fish and chips for example. HOWEVER!!!!! there are some fantastic māori meals and ways of preparing food that make me salivate just to think about... ..

this is a hāngī:

food is cooked underground for several hours and this gives everything a SUPER delicious earthy, smoky flavour. it's fucking divine and you have got to seek it out if you ever visit. definitely support māori iwi by eating from māori owned restaurants!!

https://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/maori-hangi/ this website has a little bit more info about it, my goddd its so delicious. the fried bread that is made in these frankly magical pits is so good

I've never eaten one but apparently huhu grubs (endemic to aotearoa!!) are delicious and taste like peanut butter of all things!! you can eat them raw or cooked. longfin eels or ōrea are also eaten by māori.

in terms of food just out and about in nz: pies!!!! pies pies pies we cannot get enough of them!! number one road trip meal. mince and cheese is everyones favourite but I like potato top spinach and feta because I'm special like that

also, in terms of common māori names for food: I knew sweet potato as kūmara growing up!! orange kūmara was super common in a lot of meals I had as a kid and oh my god its delicious. I'm not sure how common it is in other places but its eaten about as often as potato in nz, at least in my experience!!

side note I am not māori, I'm pakeha (european descent) so please let me know if any of this is inaccurate or could do with clarifying!!!

reblog with which of these things you already knew about aotearoa new zealand, no shame in not knowing all of them!! help me out for curiosity’s sake

1. the original māori name for new zealand is aotearoa

2. kiwi are not extinct, they still exist

3. plural of any native bird in māori is the same as the singular form (e.g. I saw three kiwi)

4. where it is on the map + its vague shape (without looking at a map)

5. the director of shrek is from nz (threw this one in for fun. I know the guy. small ass country)

6. the national anthem is half in māori, half in english

7. the only mammals in aotearoa prior to human settlement were several species of bats (+ some marine mammals)

8. the only species of alpine parrot in the world are found in aotearoa (kea!!)

9. the heaviest insect in the world is endemic to nz (giant wētā!!!)

10. the city of tamaki makaurau has over 50 volcanoes. I lived there. going back in 7 months yay yay yay

11. just. the existence of the waitomo glow worm caves. search them up.

12. often, regardless of nationality, māori words will be mixed into english sentences- I heard “puku” more than I heard “belly” growing up, despite nobody in my family being māori

13. instead of swimwear we say togs

I find it amusing how much people just seem to not know about aotearoa/new zealand despite it being pretty massive (bigger than britain, only a little smaller than japan) so I’m sharing some facts in hope that in return people will tell me whether they knew these things or not!!

[cliban]

We were DMing and you mentioned some urban legends from your area. Can you tell a few?

YESSSS THANK YOU.

Gather round children for it is....

DRABBLE TIME.

So the first is a lot of big cat sightings in NZ. There are a lot of tales of seeing black Panthers around, livestock having been killed. None of these rumours have been confirmed.

The second, is an older Maori legend, called the Moehau. This is our version of a bigfoot, skunk ape, etc. They're said to be at least 4 meters tall, with talon tipped fingers that can tear flesh and wood. There is actually a bit of evidence to support this having once existed, such as claw marks on Moa bones that were not made by their predators- Haast's eagle - instead, by an unknown creature. They have also been blamed for the death of a couple that went missing whilst spending the night in a shack. The man's corpse was found, half eaten, while the woman was found further up, her neck snapped. There have been footprints, and sightings. Makes you think, doesn't it? I used to be terrified of them XD.

My favourite is the demon eel. Or taniwha. These are probably longfin eels, which are capable of killing a fully grown man. Taniwha used to drag people down to their deaths and eat them. I mean, theres not much to say about them, except their also from Maori legend.

Another thing is the Haast eagle. These gigantic birds killed Moa as their primary food source, and were said to be capable of carrying a small child. While they are extinct, some believe they're still alive.

TIME FOR MODERN.

The Dunedin Dog Boy.

In the bush, theres always a chance that, in Dunedin, you'll be faced with an upright, pitch black mix of dog and human, with glowing red eyes. It's a game of chicken there, who can face of the longest with the dog boy, and who'll end up chased down the street with it biting at their heels.

Light orbs.

I've seen two of these myself. In NZ, on cloudy nights and early cloudy mornings, you can see small, golden orbs of light, from a distance, floating, or sometimes on top of houses, go left a couple of meters, then vanish. They dont harm anyone, dont effect anyone, and nobody knows what they are.

So those are the ones I know, I hope you like them!

[anguilliforme]

Sadly not entirely accurate, but the fact that we know so much about where eels breed after such a long period of mystery is actually so amazing!

European freshwater eels actually do make the journey to the sargasso sea- with some of the furthest traveling eels swimming 9000km to get there.

[image]

The NZ eels that have been tracked show that they travel to the Tonga trench, somewhere between New Caledonia and Fiji, still an impressive hike if you ask me

[source]

Comparatively lazier, Australian eels have been tracked migrating to the coral sea:

[source]

Japanese eels will migrate to a spot near the Mariana trench called the Mariana ridge

[source]

While eels in the US and in Europe do travel far, there are some other amazing migration routes that eels all around the world will take just to breed. Obligatory image of a NZ longfin eel being tagged by Paul Franklin (left), one of the ecologists who helped to make this discovery:

So, if you think you're desperate, New Zealand eels have to swim through the South Atlantic Ocean, round the bottom of Africa, then up past most of South America, in order to have sex and breed. No wonder it's a once in a lifetime thing.

[oceanicrising]

you ever think about how dragons are like eels? No? Well now you are. Which of your dragons is most eel like either in looks or attitude(literal or metaphorical eels)

😃 i have no idea where u came from or how long ago this was sent BUT

this is my darling girl bluemoon i imagine she is like these guys 👇 nz longfin eels

bluemoon is a seer and it's said that she was trained under tidelord himself (before he left to get milk), i can just see her down there looking very eel-y as she swims through the arches of the spiral keep

yeah shes got those vibes to me thank u for making me think abt this!!

[eelpatrickharris]

Can I pet a NZ longfin eel? Would it hurt them???

they've got real sharp teeth, so i would only do it if it's a really tame eel and an eel whisperer is with you, but yes! a couple pats won't harm them.

[zoomology]

Mahakirau Forest Estate

Click to zoom in

Three Archey’s frogs, five Hochstetter’s frogs, three Coromandel striped geckos, and one forest gecko… all seen in less than a 24 hour period! Whenever we visit Sara and Ro out at Mahakirau Forest Estate, we are always spoilt with wildlife encounters.

Mahakirau Forest Estate

The Mahakirau Forest Estate is located on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, and is made up of almost 600 hectares of native forest. This is divided into 24 private properties which are covenanted with the QEII National Trust (560ha) or with Thames Coromandel District Council (16ha). Introduced animal and plant controls are in place on the estate to protect and restore biodiversity. Their efforts do not go unnoticed with many very rare species being found in the area!

Our friend and fellow ecologist, Amy Archer, checking out the freshwater fauna.

Click to zoom in

Here is a brief overview of some of the species you might encounter there:

Reptiles and Amphibians

Coromandel striped gecko (Toropuku “Coromandel”)

Forest gecko (Mokopirirakau granulatus)

Hochstetter’s frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)

Archey’s frog (Leiopelma archeyi)

Birds

North Island kākā (Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis)

North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)

Kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)

Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)

Bellbird (Anthornis melanura)

Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)

Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala toitoi)

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)

Grey warbler (Gerygone igata)

Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus vagans)

Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae)

Shining cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidas)

Insects

Helm’s butterfly (Dodonidia helmsii)

Painted cave wētā (Neonetus spp.)

Freshwater Fish

Longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii)

Kokopu spp.

Flora

Northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta)

Kauri (Agathis australis)

Miro (Podocarpus ferrugineus)

Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum)

Mountain tōtara (Podocarpus hallii)

Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides)

Kaikawaka (Libocedrus bidwillii)

Tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides)

Taraire (Beilschmiedia tarairi)

Pukatea (Laurelia novae-zelandiae)

Kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile)

Kānuka (Kunzea spp.)

Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium)

King Fern

Kirk’s daisy (Brachyglottis kirkii)

Looking up towards the canopy. 

Click to zoom in

OUR ENCOUNTERS

The following photos are a few highlights of our Mahakirau Forest Estate explorations. We went out on a night-walk where we spotted the Archey’s frog, forest gecko and Coromandel striped gecko. We also found Hochstetter’s frogs the next morning on a wander along one of the forested streams.

Amy and Tom have found a critter to photograph.

Click to zoom in

Archey’s Frog (Leiopelma archeyi)

Family: Leiopelmatidae New Zealand Status: Endemic Conservation Status: Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable (NZTCS), Critically Endangered (IUCN)

The Archey’s frog is the only terrestrial frog found on mainland New Zealand. It is also our smallest native frog, growing up to 37 mm long.

Click to zoom in

Check out our blog post about the Archey’s frog from a previous trip here:

Hochstetter’s Frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)

Family: Leiopelmatidae New Zealand Status: Endemic Conservation Status: At Risk – Declining (NZTCS)

The Hochstetter’s frog is New Zealand’s most widespread native frog. It has partially webbed feet and has more warts than our other native frogs.

Click to zoom in

Check out our blog post about the Hochstetter’s frog from a previous trip here:

Coromandel Striped Gecko (Toropuku “Coromandel”)

Family: Diplodactylidae New Zealand Status: Endemic Conservation Status: Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable (NZTCS)

The Coromandel striped gecko is considered to be one of the rarest and most restricted of the New Zealand geckos.

Click to zoom in

Check out our blog post about the Coromandel striped gecko from a previous trip here:

Forest Gecko (Mokopirirakau granulatus)

Family: Diplodactylidae New Zealand Status: Endemic Conservation Status: At Risk – Declining (NZTCS)

The Māori name for the forest gecko is moko pirirākau, meaning “the lizard that clings to trees.” You might have noticed that this is also its genus.

Click to zoom in

Until Next Time

Thank you, Sara and Ro, for having us to stay once again. We always enjoy our time with you and the other Mahakirau residents (of all varieties, humans included😊).

What a special place you call “home”!

One last view before heading back up the hill. See you again soon!

Click to zoom in

References and Further Reading

Department of Conservation Website – Archey’s Frog – http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/frogs-pepeketua/archeys-frog/ (Retrieved 28 March, 2018)

Department of Conservation Website – Frogs/Pepeketua – http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/frogs-pepeketua/ (Retrieved 28 March, 2018)

Department of Conservation Website – New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/conservation-publications/nz-threat-classification-system/ (Retrieved 13 March, 2018)

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Website – http://www.iucnredlist.org/ (Retrieved 13 March, 2018)

Mahakirau Forest Estate Website – http://www.mahakirau.co.nz/ (Retrieved 13 March, 2018)

QEII National Trust Website – https://qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/ (Retrieved 13 March, 2018)

Where can you see Archey's & Hochstetter's frogs, Coromandel striped geckos and forest geckos all in less than 24 hours? #MahakirauForestEstate #Leiopelmaarcheyi #Leiopelmahochstetteri #Toropuku“Coromandel” #Mokopirirakaugranulatus Click to zoom in Three Archey's frogs, five Hochstetter's frogs, three Coromandel striped geckos, and one forest gecko...

[anguilliforme]

nz longfin eel! theyve got such cute little faces

What's your favourite eel?

Mines are the European eel and the Hawaiian conger eel! (My pfp, they're so cute,they're like kittens)

[mtwiston-blog]

New Zealand, North Island part 1…..

So a new continent… arriving in Auckland I wasn’t sure what to expect and it turns out my entire view of what the whole of New Zealand was like was not quite right.  Beautiful country, lovely people though the cities are so much smaller than I thought they’d be.

The first bus I caught took me to Hot Water Beach (HWB), east of Auckland. Though we made a few stops on the way including Cathedral Cove.

Now I had bought a Kiwi Experience bus pass and what I didn’t realise was that they stopped every hour or so along the way for walks and beaches etc…. This was both a positive and negative. It meant that a 2hr journey became 5hrs, though you got to see more places along the way…. buuuut if you didn’t want to see these places you were a bit stuffed. So I’m not going to mention every stop on the way, just those worth mentioning!!

HWB was incredible. NZ is the result of two tectonic plates meeting and therefore has a lot of volcanic activity. This beach was one of the benefits of living in such a volatile part of the world. At 11pm we hit the beach, this was perfect timing as it was low tide and the hot water could only be reached at this point. Pulling out the spades we dug our holes and tried to find the perfect mix of near boiling spring water and freezing sea water to finally sit in our hot man made pools, feeling a little like the Japanese Macaques in their hot springs. Bliss.

From hot water coming out of the ground to going into the ground into cold water. We took a tour through the caves of Waitomo. Absolutely spectacular due to the glowing lights of the glowworms that reside in there. Well that was until it was revealed that they were actually maggots and the glow came from their luminescent excrement. Regardless of this when we turned our headlamps off it was as if looking into the starry nights sky on a clear night, awesome. Jumping over waterfalls and floating along in our donughts we also saw some longfin eels, a great day out.

One activity I was a bit apprehensive of signing up for was a Mauri (pronounced “Mouldy” out here) village tour. It was nice to learn a bit about their culture and especially eat their traditional food cooked underground. Though overall I found the whole thing a little too catered for tourists, I definitely appreciated the experience but New Zealand has evolved so much since its tribal years so it is hard to hold on to that authentic feel.

Another geologists day out was to the Geothermal Pools of Rotorua. Probably not the best choice on my part as I realised during the walk around that a lot of the appeal was due to the range of colours in the water and soil…. not something a colourblind person really appreciates.  Though the bubbling mud pools were mesmerising and one cannot avoid the sulphur stench which permeates throughout the whole town.

I loved Rotorua, not the city in particular which was built mainly for tourists but the people. All extremely friendly and I quickly found myself invited out for dinner with some locals. This turned into a lot of beers afterwards and I had to finish the night after a Fijian man kept asking to take me home….  Flattered but to his disappointment I had to take my leave. Though on return I found I had left a good bunch of locals for teenage drama back at the hostel. Not preferred!!

Also was able to do some white water rafting in Rotorua, complete with a 7m drop over the Tutea falls, I believe they said it was the highest rafted drop in the world. Regardless it was still quite an experience to have the entire raft and crew be completely submerged (photos showed us completely disappearing). We emerged again to watch other rafts either make it through also or topple over as the scared faced tourists panicked like cats in a bath.

Unfortunately I have no pictures from the Waitomo caves (as they are still on another travelers pen-drive) or those from HWB (as I did not trust myself to destroy my phone so late and so drunk surrounded by hot water) though more fantastic photos are still yet to come.