ANIMAL SPECIES:Australian Burrfish, Allomycterus pilatus (Whitley, 1931)
The Australian Burrfish has a rounded body that is covered with stout blade-like spines. It occurs in temperate marine waters from central New South Wales to Western Australia, including Tasmania.
Identification
The Australian Burrfish has a rounded body that is covered with stout blade-like spines. It has rounded dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Its pectoral fins have indented posterior margins.
Two forms of the species are recognised. A shallow-water form has scattered dark spots dorsally. The deep-water form has yellow blotches on the sides.
Size range
The species grows to about 50 cm in length.Distribution
The Australian Burrfish occurs in temperate marine waters from central New South Wales to Western Australia, including Tasmania. It is also known from some seamounts on the Norfolk Ridge, Tasman Sea.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Australian Burrfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection
Habitat
The species is known from as shallow as 5 m in estuaries to at least 320 m in offshore waters, where it is sometimes caught in the nets of trawlers.
Classification
- Species:
- pilatus
- Genus:
- Allomycterus
- Family:
- Diodontidae
- Order:
- Tetraodontiformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Gomon, M.F. 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.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
- Leis, J.M. 2006. Nomenclature and distribution of the species of the porcupinefish family Diodontidae (Pisces, Teleostei). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 63(1): 77–90.
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An Australian Burrfish trawled during the NORFANZ expedition View full size
Robin McPhee
© NORFANZ Founding Parties
The holotype of Allomycterus pilatus, the Australian Burrfish, View full size
Mark Allen
© Australian Museum
Australian Burrfish illustration View full size
Allan McCulloch
© Australian Museum
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