PORT PHILLIP BAY


Tarwhine 

Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål, 1775)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details



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.
Mostly coastal fishes with rather deep compressed bodies, a small mouth broadly separated from the eye, a single long-based dorsal fin with strong spines and soft rays, long pointed pectoral fins and rather large, firmly attached scales. Jaws with two forms of teeth, canines or incisors at the front and rounded or flattened molars in the rear.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Sparidae
Genus:
Rhabdosargus
Species:
sarba

General Description

Body deep, compressed, head profile rounded; dorsal fin long-based; scales absent from space between eyes; jaws with peg-like teeth at front and molars at the rear, and a greatly enlarged molar at rear of each jaw; scales smooth to touch. Body silvery with golden-yellow to brownish lines along scale rows. To 80 cm.

Habitat

Widespread in bays and estuaries and on shallow coastal reefs, in depths of 0-60 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

In Victoria, mainly eastern areas.

Species Group

Fishes › Seabreams

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

80 cm

Commercial Species

Yes

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, Tarwhine, Rhabdosargus sarba, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jul 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6453

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