Colours
Distinguishing features
A small rock cod covered with closely spaced brown blotches, becoming more widely spaced on the belly. Some of the blotches on the flanks appear to be "merged". Individuals can assume a colour pattern with vague dark vertical bands (see image below).
Size
- Up to 31 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Areas of good coral cover on reef fronts, flats, and lagoonal and back reef patches.
Can be found in most locations around the island.
Behaviour
The Birdwire Rockcod is a common small Serranid at Lizard Island, and like others in the Family, it is a monandric protogynous hermaphrodite, with fish starting life as females and changing to male at 3-5 years of age. Spawning takes place during the summer months, shortly after the full moon. This species is an ambush predator, lying in wait for small fishes to venture close to its hiding place, before making a rapid attacking rush.
Web resources
References
- Alan, M.A. and M. Nakamura (2007). Efferent duct differentiation during female-to-male sex change in honeycomb grouper Epinephelus merra, Journal of Fish Biology, 71: 1192-1202.
- D Beukers-Stewart, B. and G.P. Jones (2004). The influence of prey abundance on the feeding ecology of two piscivorous species of coral reef fish, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 299: 155-184. LIRS catalog number 868.
- Jagadis, I., B. Ignatius, D. Kandasamiw and M.D. Ajmal Khan (2006). Embryonic and larval development of honeycomb grouper Epinephelus merra Bloch, Aquaculture Research, 37: 1140-1145.
- View all references