Blue-eye Trevalla, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1818)
Many common names have been used for this species. These include the Big Eye, Big-eye Trevalla, Blue-eye, Blue-eye Cod, Blue-nose, Bluenose Warehou, Bonita, Bream Trevalla, Deep-sea Trevalla, Griffin's Silverfish, Sea Trevally, Stoney-eye and Trevalla.
Introduction
The Blue-eye Trevalla is a benthic species that is found on rocky seabeds in continental slope depths. Juveniles tend to be around the midwater to surface level. Highly regarded as a food fish.
Identification
The Blue-eye Trevalla is a stout bodied fish with a blunt snout and small scales. It has two dorsal fins. The first has short, stout spines, and is joined by membrane to the base of the second dorsal fin, which is higher and longer based. The pectoral fins are falcate and the caudal fin is forked. The head has many small pores.
In life, this species is bluish grey above, grading to grey below. The fins are a dark metallic grey.
Habitat
The Blue-eye Trevalla is a benthic species that is found on rocky seabeds in continental slope depths.
Distribution
It occurs circumglobally in southern temperate marine waters.
In Australia it is known from off south-western Western Australia and off southern Queensland to the central coast of Victoria and Tasmania.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Economic impacts
The Blue-eye Trevalla is sometimes caught by long line and trawlers. It is an excellent eating fish.
References
- McDowall, R.M. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- McDowall, R.M. 2001 Centrolophidae. Medusafishes (ruffs, barrelfishes). in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony Fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals. FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-v, 3381-4218.
- Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.