PORT PHILLIP BAY


Zebrafish 

Girella zebra (Richardson, 1846)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: XIV, 13-15
Anal fin spines/rays: III, 11
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 17-19
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: 72-80

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.
A diverse group of moderately deep-bodied oval fishes with short heads, blunt snouts, a continuous long-based dorsal fin, a concave to forked tail, pelvic fins arising behind the pectoral-fin base and small rough scales. Most are omnivores and often occur in large schools.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Kyphosidae
Subfamily:
Girellinae
Genus:
Girella
Species:
zebra

General Description

Body somewhat compressed, oval; head rounded, mouth tiny; dorsal fin single, long-based; tail large, slightly concave. Body silvery-grey with about 9 wide vertical dagger-shaped bars, fins yellow. Juveniles more dusky and may be confused with Luderick, Girella tricuspidata. To 54 cm.

Biology

These fishes form small schools in bays, estuaries and on coastal reefs.

Habitat

Bays, estuaries and coastal reefs, in depths of 0-20 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Sweeps and allies

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor Midwater

Max Size

54 cm

Diet

Herbivore

Commercial Species

Yes

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, Zebrafish, Girella zebra, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 26 Apr 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7990

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