(Image credit: David Maynard, QVMAG)

Commonly found in shallow waters and reef environments across the southern coast of mainland Australia from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. Well known in Bass Strait and across northern Tasmania. Identified by its whitish body and broad vertical stripes (9-10) which are thicker at the top and taper toward the underbelly area (ventral region). They have small mouths and chisel like teeth to enable them to feed on algae and invertebrates from the sea floor. Juveniles are darker so it is more difficult to see the bands.

Length: Up to 54 cm

Habitat

Reef; 0-20 m depth

Log it

In Tasmania, log this species if you spot it on the west, east and south coasts

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 books:

Australian Marine Life: The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters by G. J. Edgar, Revised (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/