Colours
Distinguishing features
Size
- Up to 200 cm (Total Length)
Weight
- Up to 110 kg
Depth range
- From 10 m to 400 m
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It is a widely distributed Indo-Pacific species. It can be found in the Red Sea, Pakistan, southern Oman, Somalia, Socotra (Yemen), Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), some western Indian Ocean islands (Seychelles, Mauritius, Réunion), west coast of India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia (Flores and Bali -Nusa Penida, Solomon Islands, excluding Irian-Jaya), the northwest Australian shelf, Great Barrier Reef, Christmas Island, Coral Sea, Osprey Reef, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, southern Japan, Paracel Islands, Pratas Reef, and the East African coast from the Red Sea south to Aliwal Shoal 30°S in (South Africa). (Wikipedia)
It is mainly found in deep reef channels and seamounts, in current prone areas (Ref. 48635). Juveniles may be found in tide pools. (Fishbase)
Behaviour
It is considered to be exceedingly territorial and very aggressive towards intruders. (Fishbase)
Diet
It feeds on reef fishes, skates, crabs, and spiny lobsters. (Fishbase)
Web resources
Danger
- unspecified - Although considered harmless, the Potato Rockcod is inqusitive, and on rare occasions, large individuals may be aggressive. (Wikipedia)
References
- Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Pears, R.J. (2005). Comparative demography and assemblage structure of serranid fishes: implications for conservation and fisheries management, Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University. LIRS catalog number 968.