Zebrafish, Girella zebra (Richardson, 1846)
It has also been referred to as the Stripey Bream.
Click to enlarge image
© David Muirhead
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Girella
- Species
- zebra
- Family
- Girellidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 51 cm in length.
Introduction
Adult Zebrafish have a pale body with nine or ten tapering dark bars on the sides. The fish occurs in shallow coastal reefs in southern Australian waters.
Identification
The Zebrafish can be recognised by its pale body with nine or ten tapering dark bars on the sides. It has pale yellow fins. Juveniles are darker with less distinct banding.
This fish has a long based dorsal fin and a large forked caudal fin. It has a small mouth. The maxillae of the upper jaw are concealed behind the preorbital bones. The jaws have a distinct outer row of flattened tricuspid teeth behind which is a band of smaller teeth.
© Erik Schlögl
Habitat
It is usually found on rocky reefs in shallow coastal waters down to 20 m in depth. It is sometimes seen in protected offshore waters and estuaries.
Distribution
The Zebrafish is endemic to Australia. It is known from northern New South Wales, around the south of the country, including north-eastern Tasmania, to the central coast of Western Australia.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Other behaviours and adaptations
It is a schooling species.
References
- Gomon, M.F. 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.
