The Demoiselle is is an attractive little fish normally found in the warmer waters of New Zealand north of Gisborne. It is sometimes referred to as the damsel fish.

It is found on rocky coastlines and around ofshore islands, and from the surface down to a depth of 160' or 50 metres. It is a strong schooling fish and not very often seen in ones or two's.

The demoiselle has a narrow but full body with a slightly pointed head. It has large scales and a full length dorsal fin and large pectoral fins, it also has a large forked tail.

Demoiselle's are a blue/greish colour all over and slightly lighter on their underside. They also have two very distingtive white spots on their backs.

Theise fish grow to a average length of 6 to 8 inches or 10 to 20 cm.

They feed on plankton and small crustations trapped on the waters surface.

There is other species of demoiselle with only one spot on their sides, this fish is a yellowish green colour and is called the yellow demoiselle.

I have encounted schools and schools of theise small inquisitive fish at Little Barrier Island and at the Poor Knights Islands North East of Whangarei.