Reef Watch Victoria

The Blue Throat Wrasse is the most common reef fish in Victoria. Males are dark brown with a white band across the mid body, and have a yellow tail and side fins. They are name for the light blue stripe on their throats. They hold a territory, usually centred around a deep hole under a rock, often controlling a harem of smaller females. Females are cream coloured with a white and dark band across the mid body. The Blue-throated Wrasse is also known as the Bluehead, Bluehead Parrotfish, Bluenose, Bluenose Parrotfish, Kelpie, Lilac Banded Parrotfish, Rocky Bream, Rocky Cod, Rotfish, and Winter Bream. It grows to 50cm in length.

Range: Coastal reefs in S.A, Vic, Tas and in small numbers in southern NSW

Images: Upper - male; Lower - female.

Map interpretation: This maps show the average abundance of this species, as observed by participants in the Great Victorian Fish Count. Each dot represents a site that has been monitered by Reef Watch, and the colour of the dot shows the average abundance, as detailed in the legend. Tentative sightings occur when the Reef Watcher is not 100% confident of the identification, or where the sighting is outside the previously known distribution of the species. It would be great to confirm these sightings with a photograph or further observations.

References:

Edgar, Graham. J. 1997. Australian Marine Life - the plants and animals of temperate waters (revised edition). New Holland : Sydney .
Gomon, Martin. F, Glover, J. C. M., & Kuiter, R. H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia 's South Coast . State Print: Adelaide .
Hutchins, Barry, & Swainston, Roger. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia - Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing and Gary Allen: Smithfield .
Kuiter, Rudie. H. 1993. The Complete Divers' & Fishermen's Guide to Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia . Crawford House Press: Bathurst .
Kuiter, Rudie. H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia - A comprehensive reference for divers & fishermen. New Holland : Sydney .