Silver Drummer, Kyphosus sydneyanus (Gunther, 1886)

Scientific name: Kyphosus sydneyanus
Alternative name/s:
Buff Bream, Buffalo Bream, Buffs, Common Buffalo Bream, Drummer Bream, Southern Silver Drummer, Sydney Drummer
Similar species:
The Silver Drummer looks similar to fishes in the genus Girella. Two features can be used to separate these fishes. One is the number of dorsal fin spines - Kyphosus has 11 and Girella 13-16. The other is whether the posterior region of the maxilla is exposed or covered. In Kyphosus it is exposed but in Girella it is covered by the preorbital bone when the mouth is closed.
Silver Drummer, Kyphosus sydneyanus Click to enlarge image
Silver Drummer at a depth of 1 m, Marino Rocks, Adelaide, South Australia, 7 December 2011. Image: David Muirhead
© David Muirhead

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Kyphosus
    Species
    sydneyanus
    Family
    Kyphosidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 75 cm in length.

Introduction

The Silver Drummer has grey body, a dark spot below the pectoral fin base and a large caudal fin which is dark posteriorly. It occurs in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland, around the south of the country to the southern coast of Western Australia.

Identification

The Silver Drummer has grey body, a dark spot below the pectoral fin base and a large caudal fin which is dark posteriorly.

Habitat

It occurs on coastal rocky reefs, in harbours and bays.

Distribution

It occurs in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland, around the south of the country to the southern coast of Western Australia.

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

References

  1. Kuiter R.H. 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.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.