Abstract
Banded kōkopu body patterns are visible in 6-month-old individuals, are unique and remain unchanged over an extended time period. This allows for reliable individual identification and was confirmed by known age captive individuals and from individuals re-trapped in the wild. Body pattern types were specific to particular habitats, with lighter more spotted individuals found in forested habitats compared with darker more striped individuals found in backwater habitats. Breeding condition, which was determined by substantial weight loss through the expression of genital products, was confirmed by fin colour change, visibility of gonads through the body wall, the presence of a pectoral patch and post spawning change of body shape.
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