PORT PHILLIP BAY


Redbait 

Emmelichthys nitidus

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: XIII-XIV, 9-11
Anal fin spines/rays: III, 9-10
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 20-23
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: 87-98
Gill rakers: 37-43

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. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
Streamlined fishes with a long-based dorsal fin, a deeply forked tail, large mouths, protrusible jaws with the lower jaw protruding slightly, a broadly expanded and scaled maxillary bone; head, body, and dorsal and anal-fin bases scaled.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Emmelichthyidae
Genus:
Emmelichthys
Species:
nitidus

General Description

Body slender, cylindrical, with the spinous dorsal fin separated from soft dorsal by a distinct gap containing short isolated, or buried spines; last rays of dorsal and anal fins noticeably longer than preceding rays. Silvery or olive grey to dark blue above, rosy pink on sides and pinkish white below; fins pinkish. To 36 cm.

Biology

This species often schools with Pilchards or Mackerel, and is used commercially as fish meal.

Habitat

Usually offshore, in depths of 11-600 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and nearby oceanic islands. Southern Australia. In Victoria, rare in Port Phillip.

Species Group

Fishes › Redbaits

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Max Size

36 cm

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in 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, Redbait, Emmelichthys nitidus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6383

Text: creative commons cc by licence