Animal Species:Pink Ling, Genypterus blacodes (Forster, 1801)

The Pink Ling has an eel-like body and barbel-like pelvic fins that are positioned below the eye. The species resembles the Rock Ling, however it is pinkish to orange with a more diffuse mottled pattern. The jaw of the Pink Ling reaches the rear of the eye or just beyond whereas the Rock Ling's jaw extends well beyond the eye.

Identification

The Pink Ling has an eel-like body and barbel-like pelvic fins that are positioned below the eye.

The species resembles the Rock Ling, however it is pinkish to orange with a more diffuse mottled pattern. The jaw of the Pink Ling reaches the rear of the eye or just beyond whereas the Rock Ling's jaw extends well beyond the eye.

Size range

The Pink Ling grows to 1.6 m in length.

Distribution

In Australia it occurs in temperate marine waters from the central coast of New South Wales, around the south of the country to the south-western coast of Western Australia.

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

Genypterus blacodes

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Pink Ling specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
blacodes
Genus:
Genypterus
Family:
Ophidiidae
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  • Gomon, M.F. 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.
  • Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.


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Tags Pink Ling, Genypterus blacodes, eel-like, barbel-like pelvic fins, pink, orange, blotches/mottled, > 1m, temperate water, marine,