Giant Kahawai, Arripis xylabion Paulin 1993
Other Names: Kermadec Kahawai, Northern Kahawai
A Giant Kahawai, Arripis xylabion, at Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea, February 2014. Source: John Turnbull / Flickr. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Summary:
A deep bluish-green to deep-blue arripis becoming silvery-white below, with faint irregular dark grey spots above, and grey pectoral fins. Juveniles have a dark margin on the anal fin. The Giant Kahawai has a large caudal fin and the tail fin lobes are longer than the head length.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Arripis xylabion in Fishes of Australia, accessed 13 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1189/
Giant Kahawai, Arripis xylabion Paulin 1993
More Info
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Distribution |
Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species occurs in northern New Zealand, including the Kermadec Islands. Pelagic on continental shelf, often in schools. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin IX, 15-16; Analfin III, 9-10; Vertebrae 25. Length of upper lobe of caudal fin > 30% SL |
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Colour |
Head and body deep bluish-green to steep-blue with irregular faint dark grey spots dorsally, silvery white below. Pectorals grey, other fins translucent to grey. Juveniles with dark margin on anal fin. |
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Similar Species |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from Greek xylabion (= fire-tongs), in reference to the large forked caudal fin that distinguishes this species from other members of the genus. |
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Species Citation |
Arripis xylabion Paulin 1993, Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44(2): 467, fig. 4. Type locality: Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands [29°10'S, 177°50'W]. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Giant Kahawai, Arripis xylabion Paulin 1993
References
AFMA 2010. Norfolk Island Inshore Fishery Data Summary 2006-2009. Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Canberra. 20 pp.
Duffy, C.A.J. & Petherick, C. 1999. A new size record for kahawai (Arripis trutta) from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 33: 565-569.
Eddy, T.D. 2011. Recent observations of reef fishes at the Kermadec Islands marine reserve, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 45(1): 153-159.
Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2
Paulin, C. 1993. Review of the Australasian fish family Arripididae (Percomorpha), with the description of a new species. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44(3): 459-471 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9930459
Trnski, T. & Roberts, C.D. 2015. 194 Family Arripidae (pp. 1331-1333), in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. (eds) 2015. The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 4 pp. 1153-1748.
