Achoerodus gouldii

Achoerodus gouldii
Achoerodus gouldii male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Achoerodus
Species: A. gouldii
Binomial name
Achoerodus gouldii
(J. Richardson, 1843)
Dark blue = western blue groper
Synonyms
  • Labrus gouldii J. Richardson, 1843
  • Platychoerops muelleri Klunzinger, 1879
Achoerodus gouldii (female) Western blue groper

Achoerodus gouldii, the western blue groper, is a species of wrasse native to coastal waters of southern Australia from the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia to west of Melbourne. This species prefers areas with rocky substrates and can be found at depths of from 5 to 65 m (16 to 213 ft). Their diet consists of other fishes, small crabs, various molluscs and starfish. This species grows to a length of 175 cm (69 in).[2] Weights of up to 40 kg (88 lb) have been recorded.[3] They have a single long-based dorsal fin, a large squarish tail, thick fleshy lips, large heavy scales and peg-like teeth. [4]This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries.[2]

References

  1. Choat, J.H., Gillanders, B. & Pollard, D. 2010. Achoerodus gouldii. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 28 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Achoerodus gouldii" in FishBase. August 2013 version.
  3. Fisheries Western Australia - Western Blue Groper Fact Sheet
  4. Dianne J. Bray, 2011, Western Blue Groper, Achoerodus gouldii, in Fishes of Australia, accessed 16 Oct 2014, http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/206
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