Choerodon rubescens
Baldchin groper | Baldchin Tuskfish | Baldchin Wrasse | Westralian Baldchin Groper
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Heavy grey body, small eye, rounded head with distinctly white lower jaw/chin, white pectoral fin base and protruding teeth. Variable background colour, which ranges from greenish brown to pinkish gray Large males develop hump on head. Solitary but inquisitive, found in all shallow habitats, but juveniles more in macroalgal reef and seagrass.
Information
Max Size: 90 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 18.2-27.3°C
Depth: 2-40m
Habitat Generalization Index: 6.38
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Widespread (58.4% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Few (2 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney