Animal Species:Banded Rockcod, Epinephelus ergastularius Whitley, 1930

Alternative Name/s

Barcod, Down-under Grouper, Grey-banded Rock-cod, Sevenbar Grouper

Identification

Juvenile Banded Rockcod are brown with seven dark bands on the body. The pale spaces between the second and third bars and the fourth and fifth are narrower than those between the fourth and fifth bars and the fifth and sixth. Adults are pinkish grey. They lack the dark bands of younger fish. The white-margined fins are darker than the body.

Size range

It grows to a length of 157 cm and about 66 kg

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia, occurring from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Banded Rockcod specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Adults are caught at depths between 108 m and 370 m. Juveniles have been recorded from depths of 15 m to 128 m.

Economic/social impacts

The species is commonly caught on hook and line.

Classification

Species:

ergastularius

Genus:

Epinephelus

Family:

Serranidae

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Heemstra, P.C. & J.E. Randall. 1999. Serranidae. Groupers and sea basses in Carpenter, K.E & V.H. Niem (ed). pp 2442-2547. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 4.. FAO species identification guide for Fishery purposes. FAO.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 15 September 2012

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Banded Rockcod, Epinephelus ergastularius, Serranidae, Barcod, Down-under Grouper, Grey-banded Rock-cod, Sevenbar Grouper, brown, dark bands, stripes or bands, pinkish grey, > 1 m,