Blacktip Rockcod, Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775)
Scientific name: Epinephelus fasciatus
Alternative name/s:
Black-tipped Rockcod, Red-barred Rockcod.
Black-tipped Rockcod, Red-barred Rockcod.
Click to enlarge image
A Blacktip Rockcod at a depth of 23m, Ribbon Reef #3, Great Barrier Reef off Cooktown, Queensland, June 2002.
Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Epinephelus
- Species
- fasciatus
- Family
- Serranidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 35 cm in length.
A Blacktip Rockcod at a depth of 22 m, Agincourt Reef, Great Barrier Reef off Port Douglas, Queensland, June 2002.
Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
Introduction
The Blacktip Rockcod can be recognised by the dark tips to the spinous dorsal fin. The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.
Identification
The Blacktip Rockcod can be recognised by its colouration. It is grey to pinkish with five dusky to red bars on the body. The membrane separating the tips of the dorsal fin spines is black.
Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia the Blacktip Rockcod is known from off the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north, and south to the central coast of New South Wales.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
