General Description

Body slender, compressed; orbital tentacle with a number of lobes; last fin spine of first dorsal connected by membrane to base of second dorsal-fin; dorsal-fin spines usually with free unbranched tips; anal-fin membranes deeply incised. Colour variable, often reddish-brown or greenish, with about 7 broken bars extending onto dorsal and anal fins; sometimes uniformly dark; a large black spot present below first dorsal fin on each side; a black bar from below eye to upper jaw. To 20 cm.

Biology

This is the most common weedfish in seagrass beds in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.

Habitat

Amongst rocks, seagrass and algae in bays, tides pools and along the coast in depths of 0-10 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Seagrass meadows

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia, including western and central Victoria.

Species Group

Fishes › Weedfishes and snakeblennies

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

20 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