Animal Species:Potato Rockcod, Epinephelus tukula (Morgans, 1959)

The Potato Rockcod can grow to an alarming 2m in length, with a weight of about 100kg. In some areas it was common for divers to feed these large fish and this practice has resulted in some individuals boldly approaching divers underwater.

A Potato Rockcod at 'Cod Hole'

A Potato Rockcod at 'Cod Hole'
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

The Potato Rockcod is grey-brown with large dark brown spots on the body. It has small spots on the head and lines from the back of the eye.

Size range

The species grows to 2 m in length.

Distribution

It occurs throughout Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

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

Epinephelus tukula

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Potato Rockcod specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is found on coral reefs.

 

Classification

Species:
tukula
Genus:
Epinephelus
Family:
Serranidae
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


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Tags fish, ichthyology, Potato Rockcod, Epinephelus tukula, coral reef, > 1m, grey-brown, large dark brown spots, dots/spots, Great Barrier Reef, tropical water, marine,