Animal Species:Black-spotted Wrasse, Austrolabrus maculatus (Macleay, 1881)

The Black-spotted Wrasse is endemic to Australia. It is usually seen on rocky coastal reefs and sometimes in sponge gardens.

A Black-spotted Wrasse at Fly Point, Port Stephens.

A Black-spotted Wrasse at Fly Point, Port Stephens.
Dave Harasti © Dave Harasti

Identification

The Black-spotted Wrasse is pink to red-brown dorsally with numerous small dark spots, and pale to yellowish ventrally.

Juveniles and females have a white bar and white-edged black spot on the caudal peduncle. These markings are not present in adult males.

The genus Austrolabrus is monotypic (it only contains one species).

Size range

The Black-spotted Wrasse grows to 20 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia. It is known from two separate populations; an eastern population ranging from northern to southern New South Wales and a western population from the eastern coast of South Australia to the central coast of Western 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.

Austrolabrus maculatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Black-spotted Wrasse specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is usually seen on rocky coastal reefs and sometimes in sponge gardens.

Classification

Species:
maculatus
Genus:
Austrolabrus
Family:
Labridae
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
  2. 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.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fish, ichthyology, Black-spotted Wrasse, Austrolabrus maculatus, reefs, sponge gardens, pink, red, brown, white, yellow, long and skinny, 10 cm - 30 cm, dots/spots, rocky reef, marine, adult,