Nelson, where fish habitat and passage restoration has been carried out as part of Project Maitai. In Nelson banded kōkopu occupy creeks and tributaries in lowland coastal flats and can penetrate inland to take refuge in pools/undercut banks in tributaries with over hanging vegetation. Life cycle Banded kōkopu are diadromous, spending the first 3–4 months of life at sea, before migrating back to freshwater as whitebait of in length. Banded kōkopu become sexually mature at two or three years old. They spawn in adult habitats during flood events in autumn and early winter, laying the diameter eggs amongst flooded vegetation and leaf litter on the edge of the stream. As the flood recedes the eggs are left to develop out of the water; the high humidity provided by the vegetation keeps them moist. After three to four weeks the embryos are fully developed and require a second flood to stimulate them to hatch, and the larvae are carried to sea on the floodwaters. They live amongst and on the plankton for 3–4 months before returning to freshwater. Juvenile banded kōkopu can detect and are attracted to odours produced by adults. This suggests they have the ability to discriminate species-specific pheromones during their migratory phase, which alerts juveniles to suitable habitat based on the presence of adults. Banded kōkopu can live for at least nine years, possibly longer, and spawn multiple times over their lifetime. Behaviour Banded kōkopu are largely nocturnal, and may be easily and unobtrusively observed night, ideally using red light. Banded kōkopu may also be observed during the day if undisturbed. Juvenile banded kōkopu are one of five species of galaxiid caught and eaten as whitebait. References Martinez-Capel, F.; McCullough, C. & Hicks, B. J. (2004). On a regional model for nocturnal habitat requirements of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) in the North Island, New Zealand. Fifth International Symposium on Ecohydraulics. Aquatic Habitats Analysis & Restoration. International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR), 109-116. . NIWA Fish Atlas - Banded Kokopu June 2006 External links New Zealand native freshwater galaxiid fish, Banded kokopu TerraNature, Auckland 2010 Galaxias Endemic freshwater fish of New Zealand Fish described in 1842 Taxa named by John Edward Gray