This is the largest most commonly encountered species of Rockfish. It is black with a distinctive white band on the head.

A resident intertidal species found in pools with rocks or boulders. It is the only species of rockfish which can be found in estuarine areas. It returns to the same tidal pool as the tide drops.

It feeds mostly on crustaceans and molluscs.

Breathes air when out of water. It swims with an eel-like motion.

Paulin, C. and C. Roberts 1992 The rockpool fishes of New Zealand (Te ika aaria o Aotearoa). Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa).