Herring cale
Olisthops cyanomelas
(Image credit: David Maynard, QVMAG)
Herring cale are common from the central coast of Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria, and up the east coast of the mainland to southern Queensland. In Tasmania, Herring Cale are usually associated with northern Tasmania and southward to Tasman Peninsula. Herring Cale are not usually caught on a line as they feed on reefs on brown algae.
MALES: Dark, almost black with a bright blue tail-fin and snout stripes.
FEMALES: Olive brown and lightly banded with wavy blue lines on the head.
JUVENILES: Grey to brown and marked with darker brown and a white stripe along its mid-section.
Length: Up to 51 cm
Habitat
Exposed reef and kelp; 0-30 m depth
Log it
In Tasmania, log this species if you spot it south of the Tasman Peninsula
Related links/info
Species names on the Redmap site are based on the Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota or CAAB (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/caab/). This is updated regularly and lists the approved common name, family, species name and more.
Redmap species descriptions were based, with permission, on the following resources:
Australian Marine Life: The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters by G. J. Edgar, Revised Ed. (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne
Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast, Edited by M. Gomon. D. Bray and R. Kuiter (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne
Fishes of Tasmania by P. Last, E. Scott and F. Talbot (1983). Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority, Hobart
Find further information and images at FISHES OF AUSTRALIA http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/