Piper
are found in the inshore waters around New Zealand. They can be often seen
in esturies and mud flats only a few centimetres deep, and around wharves.
They are attracted by strong lights at night and will often swim around your
legs.
They grow to around 25 - 30 cm in length although sometimes they can be seen around 40 cm but this rare. They have a long thin body with a long extended bottom jaw much like a sword.
They are a greenish blue colour above, and a white colour below with a wide silver stripe along it's side.
Piper feed on small animals,algae and sea grass. However they themselves are a much sought after food supply by larger fish and birds, such as kahawai, kingfish and gannets