ANIMAL SPECIES:Estuary Cod, Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822)
The Estuary Cod is brown above and whitish below. It has five irregular, oblique bars on the body that bifurcate ventrally. There are numerous small orange-brown spots on the head, body and median fins. The spots are pupil-sized in small fish (see middle image) but become relatively smaller and more numerous as the fish ages.
Alternative Name/s
The Estuary Cod has also been called the Orange-spotted Grouper or Brown-spotted Grouper.Identification
The Estuary Cod is brown above and whitish below. It has five irregular, oblique bars on the body that bifurcate ventrally.
There are numerous small orange-brown spots on the head, body and median fins. The spots are pupil-sized in small fish (see middle image) but become relatively smaller and more numerous as the fish ages.
Size range
The species grows to 1 m in length.Distribution
The Estuary Cod is recorded in tropical and warm temperate marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north, and south to northern New South Wales.
Habitat
Young fish are usually found in estuaries and silty areas although have also been reported from freshwaters. Adults are often found in marine offshore areas at depths around 100 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
It eats mainly fishes and crustaceans.
Classification
- Species:
- coioides
- Genus:
- Epinephelus
- Family:
- Mark McGrouther
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Heemstra, P.C. & J.E. Randall. 1993. Groupers of the World. (Family Serranidae, Subfamily Epinephelinae). An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Grouper, Rockcod, Hind, Coral Grouper and Lyretail Species Known to Date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. FAO. Rome. Pp. 382.
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