This family is traditionally known as Morwongs primarily found in the coastal waters of the Southern Hemisphere. As specialized bottom-dwellers, they graze over reefs and sandy substrates to filter out small invertebrates. Three species were identified in the kororā diet samples: Tarakihi Nemadactylus macropterus, Porae Nemadactylus douglasii and Red moki Cheilodactylus spectabilis.
Tarakihi: is widespread throughout New Zealand from Three Kings Islands to just south of Snares Islands. Adults can grow to 70cm and they are found in depth between 5 and 500m.
Source: McMillan et al. 2019Porae: is widespread in northern New Zealand from Kermadec Islands to about Cook Strait. Adults can grow to 81cm and they can be found at depths between 7m and 107m.
Source: McMillan et al. 2019Red moki or Nanua: is widespread in northern New Zealand from the Three Kings Islands to Cook Strait but rare around the South and Chatham Islands. Adults can grow to 70cm and they can be found from the sea surface to 50m deep.
Source: McMillan et al. 2019