Trumpeter Whiting, Sillago maculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

Scientific name: Sillago maculata
Alternative name/s:
Diver Whiting, Eastern Winter Whiting, Spotted Whiting, Trumpeter Sillago, Western Winter Whiting, Winter WhitingTrumpeter Whiting, Diver Whiting, Eastern Winter Whiting, Spotted Whiting, Trumpeter Sillago, Western Winter Whiting, Winter Whiting
Trumpeter Whiting Click to enlarge image
A Trumpeter Whiting photographed at night at a depth of 10 m, the Pipeline, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, October 2003. Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Sillago
    Species
    maculata
    Family
    Sillaginidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Trumpeter Whiting grows to 30 cm in length.

Introduction

The Trumpeter Whiting is silver grey above, pale below and usually has a silvery stripe along the side of the body. It is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Trumpeter Whiting has a moderately elongate body and a deeply emarginate caudal fin. The short-based first dorsal fin has weak spines. The second soft-rayed dorsal fin has a longer base. The species is silver grey above, pale below and usually has a silvery stripe along the side of the body. There is a black spot on the pectoral fin base and large dark blotches on the body.

Sillago maculata
Trumpeter Whiting, Sillago maculata, at a depth of 5.5m, Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, 2006. Image: H. Folpp
© H. Folpp

Habitat

It is found over sandy and silty seabeds in estuarine and inshore waters.

Distribution

It is endemic to Australia, occurring in tropical and warm temperate marine waters from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

References

  1. 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.
  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. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  4. McKay, R.J. 1985. A revision of the fishes of the family Sillaginidae. Memoirs of the Queenland Museum. 22(1): 1–73 figs 1–18.Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.