Animal Species:Bluethroat Wrasse, Notolabrus tetricus (Richardson, 1840)
The Bluethroat Wrasse can be recognised by its colouration. It occurs on rocky reefs of southern Australia.
A Bluethroat Wrasse at north-west Kangaroo Island
Photographer: Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl
Standard Common Name
Bluethroat Wrasse
Alternative Name/s
Blue-throat Parrotfish, Bluehead, Bluehead Parrotfish, Bluenose, Bluenose Parrotfish, Bluethroat Parrotfish, Kelpie, Lilac Banded Parrotfish, Rocky Bream, Rocky Cod, Rotfish, Winter Bream
Identification
The Bluethroat Wrasse can be recognised by its colouration. Juveniles and females are greenish to reddish with a dusky bar behind the pectoral fin. The body scales have pale centres. Males are brown to bluish-grey, with a white band across the body below the soft portion of the dorsal fin. The head is grey, the chin and throat are blue and the lips are yellow.
Size range
The species grows to 50 cm in length.
Distribution
It occurs from the central coast of New South Wales south to Tasmania and west to eastern South Australia.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Ozcam map of Bluethroat Wrasse specimens in the Australian Museum.
Habitat
The species occurs on rocky reefs. Juveniles are found in shallow weed habitats in bays and estuaries. Adults are usually seen on deeper rocky reefs to depths of about 40 m but have been trawled from water down to 160 m.
Classification
- Species:
- tetricus
- Genus:
- Notolabrus
- Family:
- Labridae
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- Gomon, M.F. & B.C. Russell in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Mark McGrouther
, Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Bluethroat Wrasse, Notolabrus tetricus, Labridae, brown, white, yellow, deep-bodied, 30 cm - 1 m, stripes or bands, rocky reef, marine, adult,
