A CHECKLIST OF FISHES FROM CUVIER ISLAND, NORTH-EASTERN NEW ZEALAND. G.D. Housley, D.J. Riddell, and R.V. Grace* SUMMARY INTRODUCTION

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1 TANE 27, 1981 A CHECKLIST OF FISHES FROM CUVIER ISLAND, NORTH-EASTERN NEW ZEALAND G.D. Housley, D.J. Riddell, and R.V. Grace* Department of Zoology, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland *274a Birkdale Road, Birkenhead, Auckland 10 SUMMARY Over a period of five days of scuba diving, 51 species of fish belonging to 28 families were identified around Cuvier Island. INTRODUCTION Cuvier Island is situated approximately 40 km east of the Coromandel Peninsula, north-eastern New Zealand. Influenced by the East Auckland Current, we would expect the fish fauna to be similar to that described from other islands off north-eastern New Zealand. The underwater topography in the study area varied from moderately sheltered shallow coves with low relief, to steep drop-offs with complex topography and depths exceeding 45 metres, thus providing a wide range of habitats. METHODS Nine areas were surveyed around the island, in areas sheltered from the westerly winds that prevailed over the five days from 21 to 25 May 1980 (Fig. 1). Four divers performed a total of 20 scuba dives of varying duration and depth, to a maximum of 45 metres. The fish species seen on all dives were combined from all areas for this checklist. Habitat notes were also made for each dive site. RESULTS 51 species of fish from 28 families were identified and are listed below. Nomenclature generally follows that of Thompson (1981). In addition to the fish listed, a hybrid labrid (Ayling 1980) was noted which has not been further identified. SPECIES LIST Family Species Common name Myliobatidae Myliobatus tenuicaudatus Hector Eagleray 37

2 Muraenidae Gobieosocidae Gadidae Exocoetidae Trachichthyidae Berycidae Zeidae Scorpaenidae Serranidae Carangidae Arripidae Sparidae Mullidae Pempheridae Kyphosidae Pomacentridae Chironemidae Aplodactylidae Cheilodactylidae Labridae (><taeniae Mugiloididae Bleniidae Tripterygiidae Gymnothorax prasinus {Richardson) G. ramosus (Griffin) *Trachelochismus melobesia (Phillips) Lotella rhacinus (Richardson) Reporhamphus ihi (Phillips) Hoplostethus elongatus (Gunther) Trachichthodes affinis (Gunther) Zeus faber Linnaeus Scorpaena cardinatis Richardson Ellerkeldia huntii (Hector) Caesioperca lepidoptera (Bloch & Seriola grandis Castelnau Caranx georgianus Cuvier Decapterus koheru (Hector) Arripis trutta (Bloch & Chrysophrys auratus (Bloch & Upeneichthys porosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) Pempheris adspersa Griffin Girella tricuspidata (Quoy & Gaimard) Kyphosus sydneyanus (Gunther) Scorpis violaceus (Hutton) Parma alboscapularis Allen & Hoesse Chromis dispilus Griffin C. hypsilepis (Gunther) Chironemus marmoratus (Gunther) Aplodactylus meandratus Richardson Cheilodactylus douglasi Hector C. spectabilis Hutton Pseudolabrus celidotus (Bloch & P. fucicola (Richardson) P. miles (Bloch & P. inscriptus (Richardson) P. luculentus (Richardson) Bodianus oxycephalus (Bleeker) Coris sandageri (Hector) Suezichthys sp. Odax pullus (Bloch & Parapercis colias (Bloch & Blennius laticlavius Griffin Forsterygion varium (Bloch & F. sp. 1 (Doak 1972) F. sp. 2 (Doak 1972) F. sp. 4 (Doak 1972) F. sp. 5 (Doak 1972) Yellow moray Mosaic moray Barred clingfish Rock cod Piper Slender roughy Golden snapper John dory Red scorpionfish Red banded perch Butterfly perch Kingfish Trevally Koheru Kahawai Snapper Goat, fish Big eye Parore Silver drummer Blue maomao Black angelfish Demoiselle Singlespot demoiselle Kelpfish Marblefish Porae Red moki Paketi Banded wrasse Scarlet wrasse Green wrasse Orange wrasse Red pigfish Sandager's wrasse Crimson cleanerfish Butterfish Blue cod Crested blenny Mottled blenny Yaldwyn's blenny Yellow/black blenny Scaly-headed blenny Blue-dot blenny 38

3 Fig. 1. The dive locations during May 1980 on Cuvier Island are shown. Clinidae Monacanthidae Diodontidae F. sp. 6 (Doak 1972) Gilloblennius tripennis (Bloch & Notoclinops segmentatum (McCulloch & Phillips) *Cristiceps aurantiacus Castelnau Parika scaber (Bloch & Allomycterus whitleyi Phillips Oblique-swimming blenny Spectacled blenny Banded blenny Crested weedfish Leatherjacket Porcupinefish «species not considered for comparative purposes. SITE NOTES Three areas are discussed to relate general habitat to the fish fauna. Observations of special interest are also noted. LANDING BAY. Dives 1,2,8 & 9 Landing Bay is a mobile boulder beach which rises steeply above low water level but has a relatively gently sloping subtidal topography. The broken reef and boulder floor with kelpbeds of moderate density extends outwards for 200 metres. The brown algae Carpophyllum maschalocarpum and C. angustifolium in the shallows are gradually replaced by Ecklonia radiata in deeper water. At 15 metres depth, sand patches occur amongst the rocky areas. In the centre of the bay the topography is flatter with the hard rock substrate supporting little or no Ecklonia radiata, but a high density 39

4 of the urchin Evechinus chloroticus. Red pigfish (Bodianus oxycephalies) reach their highest density here. Very large schools of demoiselles (Chromis dispilus) and blue maomao (Scorpis violaceus) tend to be more common in the boulder areas with associated kelp closer to shore, where other labrids and red moki (Cheilodactylus spectabilis) are also common. 500 metres out from Landing Bay and to the west (see dive 8, Fig. 1), a surface reef runs out which drops steeply to 33 metres. Slopes around the reef are covered with Ecklonia radiata. Large hydroids and sponges, including the bright yellow Iophon sp., occur in the deeper water, with feather-stars (Comanthus novaezelandiae) being extremely common in places. The rare fanworm Protula bispiralis is found occasionally attached to rock near the sand at 30 metres. In this area two yellow morays (Gymnothorax prasinus) were seen to capture a red crayfish (Jasus edwardsii) under the abdomen and drag it into the crevice they occupied. FAIRCHILD BAY. Dives 5 & 7 Fairchild Bay is a mobile boulder beach similar to Landing Bay but partly sheltered by a large rock known as Scott's Monument. Juvenile black angelfish {Parma alboscapularis) were common in the shelter of boulder heaps in 2 metres of water. In this area juvenile trevally (Caranx georgianus) approximately 50 mm in length were seen to act as cleaners. When approached by an adult black angelfish, the trevally removed parasites from its flank. TOWER HILL POINT. Dives 4 & 6 At this site the rocky bottom dropped steeply into deep water (45 metres). Macroalgae typical of heavy wave-exposure (Carpophylium angustifolium and Lessonia variegata) were present in shallow water, with Ecklonia radiata appearing in deeper water. Near the surface, school fish such as koheru (Decapterus koheru) and kahawai (Arripis trutta) were common, replaced by abundant butterfly perch (Caesioperca lepidoptera) in deep water. DISCUSSION By reducing the number of species to a comparative list by the method outlined by Willan et al (1979), the list represents 49 species from 26 families for Cuvier Island. The number is very high considering the small number of dives undertaken and the somewhat compressed study boundaries due to bad weather. If comparison is made with the cumulative species sighting versus dive number curve of Nicholson (1979) for the Cavalli Islands, the 49 species recorded for Cuvier Island in twenty dives compares well with the 42 species in the first twenty dives at the Cavalli Islands. This could reflect an overall fish diversity greater at Cuvier Island than that of the Cavalli Islands 40

5 Group. Such a comparison, however, is valid only if diving effort was spread evenly through successive dives across all habitats represented. Direct comparison of the Cuvier list with standardised data from various sources throughout northern New Zealand, presented by Nicholson (1979), suggests that Cuvier Island (49 species from 26 families) ranks along with White Island (also 49 species from 26 families). Without "rate of discovery" information, however, comparison between areas is difficult because of the relationship between search time, habitats investigated, and the number of species seen - a difficulty pointed out by Nicholson (1979). It is clear, however, that the presence of certain species at Cuvier Island suggests a fairly strong influence from the oceanic subtropical East Auckland Current, as at many of the offshore islands of northeastern New Zealand. Of particular note in this respect are Gymnothorax ramosus (mosaic moray), Chromis hypsilepis (singlespot demoiselle), Pseudolabrus inscriptis (green wrasse), P. luculentus (orange wrasse), Suezichthys sp. (crimson cleanerfish), and Forsterygion sp. 5 (blue-dot blenny). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank Dr J.H. Choat for his helpful criticism of this paper, and Glenn White for his participation in the diving. REFERENCES Ayling, A.M. 1980: Hybridisation in the genus Pseudolabrus (Labridae). Copeia 1980: Doak, W.T. 1972: "Fishes of the New Zealand Region". Hodder & Stoughton, Auckland. 132 p. Nicholson, J. 1979: A checklist of fishes from the Cavalli Islands, Northland, New Zealand. Tane25: Thompson, S. 1981: The fish of the Cape Rodney to Okakari Point Marine Reserve. Leigh Laboratory, University of Auckland. 364 p. Willan, R.C.; Dollimore, T.M. & Nicholson, J. 1979: A survey of fish populations at Karikari Peninsula, Northland, by SCUBA diving. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 13(3): Note added in press: The Serranid Caproden longimanus (Gunther), pink maomao, not seen during this survey, has been confirmed as present at Cuvier Island by Mr John Peppiatt, who photographed several specimens in August

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MARINE NOTES ON HEN ISLAND, NORTH-EASTERN NEW ZEALAND. by Roger V. Grace and Anne B. Grace SUMMARY

TANE 24, 1978 MARINE NOTES ON HEN ISLAND, NORTH-EASTERN NEW ZEALAND by Roger V. Grace and Anne B. Grace 274a Birkdale Road, Birkenhead, Auckland 10 SUMMARY Sea surface temperatures close to Hen Island