PORT PHILLIP BAY


Dragonet 

Bovichtus angustifrons (Regan, 1913)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: VIII; 18-20
Anal fin spines/rays: 18
Caudal fin rays: 13-14
Pectoral fin rays: 15-16
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: (pores) 74-82

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. and Kuiter, R.H. (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Family level detail.
A small family of bottom-dwelling fishes with large close-set eyes on top of the head, a spine at the upper margin of the gill cover, two separate dorsal fins, their bases close together, pelvic fins under the head and a fan-like tail. Closely related to Antarctic icefishes.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Bovichtidae
Genus:
Bovichtus
Species:
angustifrons

General Description

Head large, body robust anteriorly, tapering to tail base; head with a prominent spine at upper corner of the gill cover, eyes large, pelvic fins large, arising below and in front of the pectoral fins; scales absent. Variably blue-grey to tan with darker red to brown mottling, spots and blotches. To 28 cm.

Biology

Small, well-camouflaged fishes that are often seen darting around in tide pools or up pier pylons around the edge of bays like Port Phillip in Victoria.

Habitat

Rocky reefs along the coast, in tide pools and around piers, in depths of 0-15 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Sponge gardens

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Thornfishes

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

28 cm

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Dragonet, Bovichtus angustifrons, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 23 Nov 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6363

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