jaw, and less rounded, forming a point that fits just inside the row of teeth on the upper jaw. Diet The dentition and digestive system of the New Zealand grayling suggests the fish was omnivorous, feeding on both aquatic larvae such as caddisflies, and plants such as waterweeds growing on the rocks of riverbeds. The fish is suspected to have been herbivorous at times. Distribution The New Zealand grayling was widely distributed throughout both the North and South islands of New Zealand throughout the 1800s; however, the distribution of the fish decreased to more isolated parts of New Zealand throughout the 20th century such as some streams in the East Cape, Wairarapa and Otaki districts on the North Island and on the west coast of the South Island. It was found in freshwater rivers and streams during autumn and winter, and migrated to New Zealand’s surrounding seas in early spring. The fish is believed to have spawned in freshwater rivers before migrating to the sea and returning to freshwater to reproduce. Angling and Hunting The New Zealand grayling was often hunted by the Māori. A traditional way the Māori people hunted the New Zealand grayling was by using a basket trap known as a hīnaki, lodged in a river to capture fish swimming downstream. The traps were often left overnight, so by morning, fish that were guided into the trap by the mānuka brush walls would be caught at the top of the tapered “V”, not being able to swim back against the current to avoid being caught. This method of catching the fish was effective as it allowed dozens of fish to be captured at a single time. Another method used by the Māori people incorporated people chasing the fish with spears or weapons to lead them into the “V” shaped traps. Threats and Extinction The cause for the extinction of the New Zealand grayling is only speculated on, as the fish went extinct around the 1920s. However, multiple sources note that there was not a single cause for the extinction, but multiple subtle factors, which when combined, led to the abrupt disappearance of the fish which was once in abundance. Being an amphidromous species and spending part of its life in freshwater rivers and streams, the New Zealand grayling was at risk of population decline and extinction due to the fragility of freshwater systems. Deforestation has been identified