Achoerodus gouldii

The western blue groper (Achoerodus gouldii) is a species of wrasse native to coastal waters of southern Australia from the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia to west of Melbourne.

Achoerodus gouldii (female) Western blue groper

Achoerodus gouldii
Achoerodus gouldii male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Achoerodus
Species:
A. gouldii
Binomial name
Achoerodus gouldii
Dark blue = western blue groper
Synonyms
  • Labrus gouldii J. Richardson, 1843
  • Platychoerops muelleri Klunzinger, 1879

This species prefers areas with rocky substrates and can be found at depths of from 1 to 65 m . Their diet consists of other fishes, crabs, lobster, various molluscs including abalone, and starfish. This species grows to a length of 175 cm (69 in).[2] Weights of up to 40 kg (88 lb) have been recorded.[3] They have a single long-based dorsal fin, a large squarish tail, thick fleshy lips, large heavy scales and peg-like teeth.[4] This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries.[2] In South Australia the species is protected in the gulfs but needs state wide protection to achieve ecologically meaningful results. It is considered by many experts to be functionally extinct in Gulf Saint Vincent and mature adults are now rare in Spencer Gulf. In light of the fact that it's the top order territorial bony rocky reef fish in this State, full protection should be a matter of high priority.

The species was formally described by the naturalist John Richardson in 1843 from a specimen taken to the British Museum (Natural History) by John Gould,[5] who Richardson honoured in the specific name he gave to this fish.[4]

References
  1. Choat, J.H.; Gillanders, B. & Pollard, D. (2010). "Achoerodus gouldii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187520A8556943. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187520A8556943.en. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Achoerodus gouldii" in FishBase. August 2013 version.
  3. Fisheries Western Australia - Western Blue Groper Fact Sheet Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Dianne J. Bray (2018). "Achoerodus gouldii". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  5. Richardson, J. (1843). "Contributions to the ichthyology of Australia (continued). Annals and Magazine of Natural History (New Series)". 11 (67-8 and 71-2): 22–28, 169–182, 352–359, 422–428. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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