PORT PHILLIP BAY


Blackspot Boarfish 

Zanclistius elevatus

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: V-VIII, 25-29
Anal fin spines/rays: III, 12-27
Caudal fin rays: 16-18
Pectoral fin rays: 15-17
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: 55-65

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.
Body compressed, often deep, most species with the head almost completely encased in exposed striated bones and very long snout in some. Dorsal fin long-based, continuous, often tall, with a spinous and soft-rayed portion, pectoral fins prominent, upper rays much longer than lower, pelvic fins large with a strong spine. The fin spines are venomous in some or all species.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Pentacerotidae
Genus:
Zanclistius
Species:
elevatus

General Description

Body deep, compressed, dorsal profile of snout deeply concave; large adults with bony knob above eye; dorsal fin continuous, very tall, fin-tips sometimes reach beyond tail; pectoral-fin base in advance of ventral-fin base. Body pale grey to pale yellowish green with 2 indistinct broad dark bands and a prominent dark spot on rear of dorsal fin. To 40 cm.

Biology

Common in some parts of its range, this species is taken in commercial trawls and is good eating.

Habitat

In depths of 25-540 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

New Zealand and southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Boarfish and allies

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

40 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, Blackspot Boarfish, Zanclistius elevatus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6480

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