Bluethroat Wrasse, Notolabrus tetricus (Richardson, 1840)

Scientific name: Notolabrus tetricus
Alternative name/s:
Blue-throat Parrotfish, Bluehead, Bluehead Parrotfish, Bluenose, Bluenose Parrotfish, Bluethroat Parrotfish, Kelpie, Lilac Banded Parrotfish, Rocky Bream, Rocky Cod, Rotfish, Winter Bream
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    11/04/24
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Notolabrus tetricus Click to enlarge image
A male Blue-throated Wrasse at a depth of 10m, north-west Kangaroo Island, South Australia, December 2003. Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Notolabrus
    Species
    tetricus
    Family
    Labridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 50 cm in length.

Introduction

The Bluethroat Wrasse can be recognised by its colouration. It occurs on rocky reefs of southern Australia.

Identification

The Bluethroat Wrasse can be recognised by its colouration. Juveniles and females are greenish to reddish with a dusky bar behind the pectoral fin. The body scales have pale centres. Males are brown to bluish-grey, with a white band across the body below the soft portion of the dorsal fin. The head is grey, the chin and throat are blue and the lips are yellow.

Notolabrus tetricus
Notolabrus tetricus
Notolabrus tetricus

Habitat

The species occurs on rocky reefs. Juveniles are found in shallow weed habitats in bays and estuaries. Adults are usually seen on deeper rocky reefs to depths of about 40 m but have been trawled from water down to 160 m.

Distribution

It occurs from the central coast of New South Wales south to Tasmania and west to eastern South Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
  2. Gomon, M.F. & B.C. Russell 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.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.