Common Name: Mulloway

Distribution: Common throughout the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Distributed throughout the southern hemisphere. In Australia recorded from southern Queensland south to Victoria and around to Exmouth Western Australia.

Ecological Notes: Schooling species, size of school may number in the hundreds of individuals. Frequents coastal waters, surf zones and estuaries. Depth from 5 to 150 m. Feeds on smaller fish, squid and octopus.

Additional Notes: Fish pictured schooling with large Tarwhine, Rhabdosargus sarba. Shiny silver to greenish bronze with a series of pearlescent spots along the lateral line. Much sought after food and sport fish, grows to 2 m in length but commonly 1.5 m.

References: Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coasts, edited by Martin Gomon, Diane Bray and Rudie Kuiter. Reed New Holland, Publishers, 2008. p.590.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=Argyrosomus+japonicus. Accessed 25/04/18.