Colours

Distinguishing features

A medium to large sized rock cod with an off-white body covered with darker blotches and a speckling of small black dots. There is a concave profile in the forehead above the eyes.

Size

Depth range

Synonyms

Distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Areas of good coral cover with shelter caves, along reef fronts and in passes.

Can be found in most locations around the island, but not common anywhere.

Behaviour

The Barramundi Cod is a monandric protogynous hermaphrodite, with fish starting life as females and changing to male later if they reach a large size. This species is an ambush predator, lying in wait for small fishes to venture close to its hiding place, before making a rapid attacking rush. It is a long-lived fish and uncommon fish, and susceptible to fishing pressure and therefore rare throughout much of its former Indo-Pacific range. However, this species is now cultured commercially which has taken pressure off wild stocks.

Web resources

References