New Zealand sand diver

The New Zealand sand diver (Tewara cranwellae) is a species of sandburrower endemic to the waters around New Zealand where it can be found in tide pools and areas with sandy substrates down to a depth of 5 metres (16 ft). This species can grow to a length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in) TL. This species is the only known member of its genus.^[1]

New Zealand sand diver
Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Acropomatiformes
Family:	Creediidae
Genus:	Tewara
Species:	T. cranwellae
Binomial name
Tewara cranwellae Griffin, 1933

A New Zealand sand diver being eaten by a dotterel at Pakiri Beach

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Louis T. Griffin in 1933, who initially used the spelling Tewara cranwelli for the binomial name of the fish.^[2] The type specimen was collected from Smugglers Bay, Whangārei Harbour, in November 1931 by Lucy Cranwell. Griffin named the species after Cranwell in her honour.^[2]