Animal Species:Luderick, Girella tricuspidata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

The Luderick is a very common coastal species in New South Wales waters. The species name, tricuspidata, refers to its flattened three-cusped teeth.

Luderick at Bass Point

Luderick at Bass Point
Sascha Schulz © Sascha Schulz

Alternative Name/s

Blackbream, Blackfish, Darkie, Mangrove Fish, Pacific Bream, Parore, Rockperch

Identification

The Luderick can be recognised by its evenly arched dorsal and ventral profiles, small mouth and eye, large tail, and colour pattern. In marine waters it is bluish-grey, whereas in estuaries it is a darker grey to brown. it has 11 or 12 thin tapering bars on the side of the body, which fade to silvery below.

Size range

Adults grow to a maximum length of about 70 cm.

Distribution

The Luderick is recorded from southern Queensland to central South Australia, including northern Tasmania. It is only rarely encountered, however, away from the east coast.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Luderick specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Adults live in coastal and estuarine waters down to a depth of 20 m. They are often seen in large schools. Larvae are found in estuaries primarily in seagrass beds and also in rockpools. Juveniles move into mangrove-lined creeks and estuaries during their first year. The species is commonly seen by divers and snorkelers in shallow rocky reef areas.

Feeding and Diet

Luderick feed mainly on algae which they graze off rocks or floating material.

Life cycle

The species breeds offshore and the juveniles move into the sea grass beds in estuaries. After a few months the young fish move back to the sea or in deeper parts of estuaries.

Economic/social impacts

The Luderick is a popular angling species in New South Wales.

Classification

Species:
tricuspidata
Genus:
Girella
Family:
Kyphosidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F, C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Girella tricuspidata, Luderick, Kyphosidae,