Animal Species:Rock Ling, Genypterus tigerinus Klunzinger, 1872

The Rock Ling has an elongate body with an eel-like tail. It occurs in temperate marine waters of the south-western Pacific.

Rock Ling, Genypterus tigerinus

Rock Ling, Genypterus tigerinus
Phil Mercurio © Phil Mercurio

Alternative Name/s

Ling, Rockling, Tiger Ling

Identification

The Rock Ling has an elongate body with an eel-like tail. Its jaw extends well behind the eye when the mouth is closed. The pelvic fins are positioned below the eye. It is white to grey with dark mottling.

Size range

The species grows to 1.2 m in length.

Similar Species

The Rock Ling looks similar to the Pink Ling, Genypterus blacodes.

Distribution

The species occurs in temperate marine waters of the south-western Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central New South Wales coast around the south of the country to south-western 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 tigerinus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Rock Ling specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The Rock Ling is found in caves and crevices in shallow marine waters down to a depth of about 60 m. Juveniles live in estuaries.

Classification

Species:
tigerinus
Genus:
Genypterus
Family:
Ophidiidae
Order:
Ophidiiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. 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.
  2. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  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.
  6. Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Rock Ling, Genypterus tigerinus, Ophidiidae, elongate, eel-like, temperate water, marine, Ling, Rockling, Tiger Ling, white, grey, blotches/mottled, 30 cm - 1 m,