Groupers are solitary carnivores that hunt near the bottom usually at dusk. [2], The potato grouper has a wide distribution in the Indian and Pacific Oceans but is uncommon to rare in most areas. [3] The membranes between the dorsal fin spines are notched. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.
As a protected species in all Australian waters, the potato cod must be returned to the water immediately if caught. Habitat. This is the largest of the Grouper family and get its name from the dark blotches on its body that look at bit like the eyes on a potato! It's been illegal to harvest the friendly and curious goliath grouper fish for the past 27 years. © 2020 Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
They reach sexual maturity at 90 to 99 centimetres (35 to 39 in) and a weight of 16 to 18 kilograms (35 to 40 lb), at approximately 12 years of age.
Found singly around bommies in deep reef channels over current prone areas of coastal lagoons and seaward reefs. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-tukula. As a result, the species is irregular in its distribution and not often seen in areas open to fishing. IAN Symbol Libraries - Download all (or a custom set) of the vector illustrations in our image library.
Also known as Black-spotted Rockcod, Brown-marbled Grouper, Brown-marbled Reefcod, Cod, Hind, Potato Bass, Potato Cod, Potato Rockcod, Rockcod, Trout, Edit fish details Upload image Widespread Indo-West Pacific Maybe I'll just say on the beach this year... galen84basc October 11, 2010 . Copyright © 2020 It further occurs off western India and Sri Lanka east into the Pacific where it reaches as far east as the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. The Potato bass, Epinephelus tukula also known as the potato cod or potato grouper is one of the larger members of the cod family.The potato bass is an elongate and very robust fish with a very large mouth.The background color is light grey with large brown potato shaped blotches, hence its name. Regular groupers are kind of ugly, but a potato grouper is like a lumpy, super-sized, super-ugly grouper. Its massive size and homebody nature draws divers who are looking for a story to tell about their underwater adventure. Pale brownish grey with dark brown black widely spaced blotches. Spawning is seasonal and controlled by the moons phase. Login on the desktop to upload your own pictures! It is commonest along the coast of eastern Arica from the Red Sea to KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and around the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Réunion. Depth range 10m - 150m Food reef fish, crabs, spiny lobsters Range The Potato Rockcod is found on coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific. It is these features that make the potato cod highly susceptible to overfishing. Depth - 5-400m The potato grouper are found in coral reefs in the channels in the reefs and around sea mounts in areas where there is a strong current. Small rays, crabs, fish, squid, lobster or octopus. Created to help individuals around the world identify tropical fish
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[2] This species is pale brownish-grey in overall colour and it is covered in large dark widely separated blotches. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. Aggregations of smaller fishes have been observed but it is not known of this species aggregates to spawn. [3] The dark blotches on the body are thought to resemble potatoes in shape and thus give rise to the common name. As an inquisitive and slow moving fish, this cod is susceptible to overfishing and is easily speared or caught by line fishing. Some of the largest adults have been reported to be almost entirely black. Coral reef habitats exposed to currents, such as channels or seamounts.
The potato grouper has a standard length which is 2.9 to 3.5 times its depth. [5], The potato grouper are found in coral reefs in the channels in the reefs and around sea mounts in areas where there is a strong current. For instance, the lantern fish -- talk about creepy! There are smaller blotches on the head. Potato rockcod, grouper, potato bass, potato grouper. Juveniles are found in shallow tidal pools whilst adults are found between depths of 10-150 m. Pale brownish grey with dark brown black widely spaced blotches. It has a slightly convex region between the eyes and the dorsal profile of the head is straight. (2019). Ooh, you get the creepiest looking animals in the aphotic zone. [1], The potato cod was first formally described in 1953 by J.F.C. Potato cod (Image: © Shannon Conway). Browser Sidebar for easier navigation and searching. The head has smaller brown spots with streaks radiating out from the eye. The captivating potato cod is truly a giant of the fish kingdom.
The caudal fin is rounded. [3] The juveniles prefer the shallow water and are often found in tidal pools on the reef, while the adults are found at depths between 10 to 150 metres (33 to 492 ft). [1] It is protected in South Africa[2] and in Australia.[9]. Potato cod have been known to get super friendly with divers who visit regularly, even growing accustomed to hand feeding. This is a huge and friendly fish who is very inquisitive to divers Library Guide - Contains a list of instructions on navigating, uploading and downloading files. Food is drawn into their mouths by a powerful suction when they open their overly large mouths and then swallowed whole. The preopercle is rounded or subangular and it has slightly enlarged serrations at its corner while the gill cover has a straight upper margin. The head has smaller brown spots with streaks radiating out from the eye. Widely distributed in Indo-Pacific tropical and subtropical waters from the Red Sea to the Solomon Islands. There are no records of injury caused by this cod, however being a large fish with powerful jaws, inexperienced divers should exercise caution.
Potato rockcod, grouper, potato bass, potato grouper.
The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community.
An ambush predator, the potato cod hides behind coral bombies waiting for prey to pass. The juveniles prefer the shallow water and are often found in tidal pools on the reef, while the adults are found at depths between 10 to 150 metres (33 to 492 ft).
Dark lines radiate out from the eyes and there are small dark spots on the fins. Its massive size and homebody nature draws divers who are looking for a story to tell about their underwater adventure. Juveniles may be found in tide pools. [1] In Australia it is distributed from Shark Bay in Western Australia along the northern coasts to Moreton Bay in Queensland. Potato Grouper, Potato Rockcod Size length to 2m. Coral reef habitats exposed to currents, such as channels or seamounts. [4] It is also found on the Great Barrier Reef. The potato grouper (Epinephelus tukula), also called the potato cod or potato bass, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. Juveniles found in tidepools. When spotted, it lunges from its hiding spot, consuming in a single gulp, its prey.