Longsnout Boarfish, Pentaceropsis recurvirostris (Richardson, 1845)

Scientific name: Pentaceropsis recurvirostris
Alternative name/s:
Boarfish, Duckfish, Long Nose Boarfish, Long-snout Boarfish, Striped Boarfish
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    30/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Longsnout Boarfish, <i>Pentaceropsis recurvirostris</i> Click to enlarge image
A Longsnout Boarfish at a depth of 10m, Bicheno, Tasmania, March 2007. Image: John Fergusson
© John Fergusson

Fast Facts

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

Introduction

The Longsnout Boarfish is endemic to Australia. The species can be easily recognised by its distinctive colour pattern and body shape.

Identification

The Longsnout Boarfish can be easily recognised by its distinctive colour pattern and body shape. It has a long, almost tubular snout and a long-based dorsal fin with widely spaced spines. These spines are reported to be venomous. The posterior edges of the soft dorsal and anal fins are concave. The upper rays of the pectoral fins are longer than those below. The adult Longsnout Boarfish is usually silvery-white with a series of broad dark bands on each side. The first band runs through the eye, onto the snout and lower jaw.

Habitat

The species occurs in very shallow rocky reefs down to depths of around 260 m.

Distribution

The Longsnout Boarfish is endemic to Australia. It occurs from Botany Bay, New South Wales, around the south of the country, including Tasmania, to Rottnest Island, Western 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. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  4. Hardy, G.S. in Gomon, M.F., C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.