Oval Rockcod, Triso dermopterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)

Scientific name: Triso dermopterus
Alternative name/s:
Oval Cod, Oval Grouper, Sooty Cod, Woore's Rock-cod, Woore's Rockcod
Oval Rocked,<i> Triso dermopterus</i> Click to enlarge image
An Oval Grouper speared at a depth of 10m by P. Mullins, near Seal Rocks, New South Wales, February 2002. (AMS I.41217-001) Image: Mark McGrouther
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Triso
    Species
    dermopterus
    Family
    Serranidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Oval Rockcod grows to 68 cm in length.

Introduction

The Oval Rockcod is dark brown to black with dark fins. The species has an anti-tropical distribution.

Identification

The Oval Rockcod has an oblique mouth and a projecting lower jaw. It has small ctenoid scales covering the head and body. The species is dark brown to black with dark fins.

Oval Rockcod, Triso dermopterus
An Oval Grouper speared at a depth of 10m by P. Mullins, near Seal Rocks, New South Wales, February 2002. (AMS I.41217-001) Image: Mark McGrouther
© Australian Museum

Habitat

It is usually found on rocky or soft bottoms at depths between 22 m and 103 m.

Distribution

The species has an anti-tropical distribution. In the Northern Hemisphere it is found in marine waters of Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. In the Southern Hemisphere it is recorded in a few localities off Western Australia and from southern Queensland to northern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Economic impacts

It has a high edibility rating. Angler, David Moore stated that "A 'family fight' ensued over the last fillet left on the plate! The flesh was white, moist and flaky. It drew comparisons with the way smoked cod comes apart on the fork. It was both attractive to the eye and delicious. It was up against snapper and pearl perch and was “better than both” as voted by a family of four that eat a lot of fish."

References

  1. 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.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.