(Image credit: NSW DPI)

A common and well known New South Wales species found from Harvey Bay to Wilsons Promontory, Victoria. Sightings of Blue Gropers have been made in the Bass Strait and off the east coast of Tasmania.These are the state fish of New South Wales. One male groper heads a larger school and if he is removed the dominant female changes gender and colour and becomes the new replacement male. MALE: Males have fleshy lips and are a blue or blue-green colour. FEMALE: Brown with random light spotting/blotches. JUVENILE: are grey with similar blotches.

Length: Up to 1 m

Habitat

Eastern blue groper are generally found on or near exposed reef; 0-40 m depth

Log it

Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmania or Victoria

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

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

Last, P. R., Scott, E. 0. G., and Talbot, F. H. (1983). 'Fishes of Tasmania.' (Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority: Hobart)