(Image credit: David Harasti)

JUVENILES: Very secretive and rarely spotted. Reside in caves and crevices in shallow waters. Grey body with dark spots and faint black banding on upper surface covering the dorsal fin. Yellow tail and yellow tips on end of anal and dorsal fins. May also have faint yellow areas between dark banding.

ADULTS: Recognisable by large size, very large mouth and relatively small eyes. Grey to brown dark spotted/speckled body. Adults continue to change colouration with growth through mottled greys, greens and browns.

This species was almost eliminated by heavy fishing pressure before protective measures were developed. Protected in New South Wales under Fisheries Management Act 1994.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable

Length: Up to 3 m

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs, estuaries, rocky areas, wrecks and caves. Occasionally found in estuaries and deep water; 0-100 m depth

Log it

Log if found anywhere in New South Wales
In Western Australia, log this species south of Rottnest Island

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.

Find further information and images at FISHES OF AUSTRALIA http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/

Allen,G. R (2009) " Field Guide to Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-East Asia". Fourth Edition.Western Australian Museum. Perth. Western Australia
Andrewartha,B & Tuma, D. (2007) "Fil-o-fish Australia: Recreational and commercial fish handbook" Balnarring. Victoria. Australia