Latridopsis
Latridopsis is a genus of marine fish in the trumpeter family Latridae. They live in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and the southeastern Indian Ocean, around southern Australia (including Tasmania) and New Zealand, down to about 160 meters on rocky reefs.
There are two recognized species:
- Latridopsis forsteri
- Latridopsis ciliaris (commonly called blue moki)
Maximum sizes are up to about 65 cm for L. forsteri and up to about 80 cm for L. ciliaris.
Description: Latridopsis fish have oval, compressed bodies with a pointed snout and a terminal mouth. They do not have thick lips, and they have a slim caudal peduncle. The dorsal fin has 16–18 spines and 37–43 soft rays, while the long anal fin has 3 spines and 31–37 soft rays; there is a deep notch between the spiny and soft parts of the dorsal fin. The pectoral fins have 16–19 rays, with the upper rays longer than the lower ones, and the fin tips are rounded. Their overall color is grey.
Diet and behavior: They feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates. They are usually solitary or in small groups, but can form large schools when migrating.
Fisheries: Latridopsis species are targeted by commercial fisheries in some parts of their range.
Taxonomy note: Latridopsis was described as a genus in 1862 by Theodore Nicholas Gill, with Anthias ciliaris as the type species designated by J.R. Forster. The genus name means “resembling Latris.” There are several historical synonyms that have been used for these fishes.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:41 (CET).