Trumpeter Whiting, Sillago maculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
Scientific name: Sillago maculata
Alternative name/s:
Diver Whiting, Eastern Winter Whiting, Spotted Whiting, Trumpeter Sillago, Western Winter Whiting, Winter WhitingTrumpeter Whiting, Diver Whiting, Eastern Winter Whiting, Spotted Whiting, Trumpeter Sillago, Western Winter Whiting, Winter Whiting
Diver Whiting, Eastern Winter Whiting, Spotted Whiting, Trumpeter Sillago, Western Winter Whiting, Winter WhitingTrumpeter Whiting, Diver Whiting, Eastern Winter Whiting, Spotted Whiting, Trumpeter Sillago, Western Winter Whiting, Winter Whiting
Click to enlarge image
A Trumpeter Whiting photographed at night at a depth of 10 m, the Pipeline, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, October 2003.
Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Sillago
- Species
- maculata
- Family
- Sillaginidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The Trumpeter Whiting grows to 30 cm in length.
Introduction
The Trumpeter Whiting is silver grey above, pale below and usually has a silvery stripe along the side of the body. It is endemic to Australia.
Identification
The Trumpeter Whiting has a moderately elongate body and a deeply emarginate caudal fin. The short-based first dorsal fin has weak spines. The second soft-rayed dorsal fin has a longer base. The species is silver grey above, pale below and usually has a silvery stripe along the side of the body. There is a black spot on the pectoral fin base and large dark blotches on the body.
Trumpeter Whiting, Sillago maculata, at a depth of 5.5m, Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, 2006.
Image: H. Folpp
© H. Folpp
© H. Folpp
Habitat
It is found over sandy and silty seabeds in estuarine and inshore waters.
Distribution
It is endemic to Australia, occurring in tropical and warm temperate marine waters from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- 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.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- McKay, R.J. 1985. A revision of the fishes of the family Sillaginidae. Memoirs of the Queenland Museum. 22(1): 1–73 figs 1–18.Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.
