Animal Species:Silver Drummer, Kyphosus sydneyanus (Gunther, 1886)

The Silver Drummer has grey body, a dark spot below the pectoral fin base and a large caudal fin which is dark posteriorly. It occurs in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland, around the south of the country to the southern coast of Western Australia.

Silver Drummer, Kyphosus sydneyanus

Silver Drummer, Kyphosus sydneyanus
David Muirhead © David Muirhead

Alternative Name/s

Buff Bream, Buffalo Bream, Buffs, Common Buffalo Bream, Drummer Bream, Southern Silver Drummer, Sydney Drummer

Identification

The Silver Drummer has grey body, a dark spot below the pectoral fin base and a large caudal fin which is dark posteriorly.

Size range

The species grows to about 75 cm in length.

Similar Species

The Silver Drummer looks similar to fishes in the genus Girella. Two features can be used to separate these fishes. One is the number of dorsal fin spines - Kyphosus has 11 and Girella 13-16. The other is whether the posterior region of the maxilla is exposed or covered. In Kyphosus it is exposed but in Girella it is covered by the preorbital bone when the mouth is closed.

Distribution

It occurs in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland, around the south of the country to the southern 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.

Kyphosus sydneyanus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Silver Drummer specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs on coastal rocky reefs, in harbours and bays.

Classification

Species:
sydneyanus
Genus:
Kyphosus
Family:
Kyphosidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Kuiter R.H. 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. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Kyphosidae, Southern Silver Drummer, Kyphosus sydneyanus, Silver Drummer, silver, yellow, black, 'normal fish', 30 cm - 1 m, countershaded, marine, adult,