The western blue groper (''Achoerodus gouldii'') is a species of

wrasse The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera, which are divided into 9 subgroups or tribes. They are typically small, most of them le ...

native to coastal waters of southern Australia from the

Houtman Abrolhos The Houtman Abrolhos (often called the Abrolhos Islands) is a chain of 122 islands and associated coral reefs, in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia, about west of Geraldton, Western Australia. It is the southernmost true coral ...

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

to west of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Achoerodus gouldii Western blue groper PC290558

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 Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is estim ...

including abalone, and starfish. This species grows to a length of . Weights of up to have been recorded. They have a single long-based dorsal fin, a large squarish tail, thick fleshy lips, large heavy scales and peg-like teeth. This species is of minor importance to local

commercial fisheries Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often p ...

. In South Australia the species is protected in Spencer Gulf, St Vincent Gulf, INvestigator Strait and Backstairs Passage. The species is occasionally caught by line and spear fishers. Conservationists and some scientists argue that state-wide protection is needed 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. Outside of spatial closures, recreational fishers are allowed to catch one Western blue groper per day in South Australia and Western Australia. The fish is fully protected in Victorian waters.

Etymology

The species was formally described by the naturalist John Richardson in 1843 from a specimen taken to the

British Museum (Natural History) The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum an ...

John Gould John Gould (; 14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist. He published a number of monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward Lear, ...

, who Richardson honoured in the specific name he gave to this fish.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q935046 gouldii Marine fish of Southern Australia Taxa named by John Richardson (naturalist) western blue groper