Solitary Islands Underwater Research Group, Inc.

Trachypoma macracanthus (Gunther, 1859)

Photographer: 
Ian Shaw
Date: 
Mon, 13/05/2013 (all day)
Location: 
Sth Solitary Island
Depth: 
14m
Photographer: 
Ian Shaw
Date: 
Sat, 06/05/2017 (all day)
Location: 
Nth Solitary Island
Depth: 
8m
Common Name: 
Pacific Rockcod
Distribution: 

Relatively common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Known from the whole of New South Wales, Lord Howe and Norfolk Is, northern New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands.

Ecological Notes: 

Frequents protected reef and boulder areas, often secreted in caves and overhangs. Depth range to 45 m.

Additional Notes: 

Bright orange to red colouration with even covering of small white spots, large eye set high on head. A benthic feeder, it takes various invertebrates and other fishes. Grows to around 40 cm.

References: 

R. Stuart-Smith, G. Edgar, A. Green, I. Shaw, Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland Publishers, 2015. p.109.

Kuiter, R. H., Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Published by Crawford House Press Pty. Ltd., 1993. p.127.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au//search?q=trachypoma+macracanthus. Accessed 01/06/18.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. https://fishbase.ca/summary/Trachypoma-macracanthus.html. Accessed 01/06/18.