Animal Species:Silver Dory, Cyttus australis (Richardson, 1843)

The Silver Dory is a marine species that lives at depths down to 350 m.  Like many species, its colouration changes at night.

Silver Dory, Cyttus australis

Silver Dory, Cyttus australis
William White © William White

Alternative Name/s

Australian Silver Dory, Bastard Dory, Boarfish, Red Dory, Sun Dory

Identification

The Silver Dory is a deep-bodied species that is normally silvery pink in colour.  It has a tall spiny dorsal fin.

Size range

50 cm

Distribution

The species occurs from southern New South Wales to eastern Western Australia, including Tasmania.

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

Cyttus australis

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Silver Dory specimens in Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It's a bottom-dwelling species that lives in continental shelf and slope waters from 20 m to 350 m deep.

Economic/social impacts

The species is trawled commercially in Victoria.

Classification

Species:
australis
Genus:
Cyttus
Family:
Cyttidae
Order:
Zeiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  2. 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.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Silver Dory, Cyttus australis, Cyttidae,