This fish family occurs in temperate reefs across the Southern hemisphere. They are active and mid-water schooling fish that gathers in large numbers of shallow rock coastlines, kelp forests and extreme surf zones where waves break across the foreshore. Two species have been identified in our korora study: Sweep Scorpis lineolata and Blue maomao Scorpis violacea.
Sweep or hui: can be found from the Three Kings Islands to Fiordland. Adults can grow up to 35cm long and they can be found from the sea surface to 30m deep and school around shallow rocky reefs.
Source: McMillan et al. 2019Blue maomao: can be found from the Kermadec Islands to Cook Strait and Kaikoura. Adults can grow up to 40cm in length, and they can be found from the surface to about 30m deep and school around shallow rocky reefs.
Source: McMillan et al. 2019