Acanthistius ocellatus

Eastern wirrah
Acanthistius ocellatus
Acanthistius ocellatus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Acanthistius ocellatus
Acanthistius ocellatus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Acanthistius ocellatus
Acanthistius ocellatus, Photo: Andrew Green
Acanthistius ocellatus
Acanthistius ocellatus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
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Acanthistius ocellatus
Acanthistius ocellatus
Acanthistius ocellatus
Acanthistius ocellatus

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Greenish brown colouration with dark blue-centred spots and 13 spines at the start of the dorsal fin.


Information

Max Size: 45 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 15.2-24.6°C

Depth: 4-100 m

Habitat Generalization Index: 6.56

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: Common (23.0% 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: Solitary (1 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: extract from GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney