Slender Roughy

Optivus elongatus

The Slender Roughy, a member of the Trachichthyidae family, is a marine fish found exclusively in the southwestern Pacific Ocean around New Zealand. This species inhabits depths ranging from 10 to 100 meters, with a preference for shallower waters between 15 and 35 meters. Divers are likely to encounter this fish in reef-associated environments, where it seeks refuge in cracks and crevices during daylight hours. Measuring up to 11.3 cm in standard length, the Slender Roughy is characterized by its elongated body. It is nocturnally active, emerging at night to feed on small mobile benthic organisms. Its feeding strategy involves drifting towards its prey and capturing it with a sideways snap of its large, extensible mouth. The conservation status of the Slender Roughy is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. While it is of no interest to fisheries, divers may spot this harmless fish during night dives when it is more active. Observing its unique feeding behavior can be a highlight of a dive in its native New Zealand waters.