Aplodactylus lophodon

Rock cale | Crinodus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon, adult, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon, juvenile, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon, Bermagui, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
1 / 5
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon
Aplodactylus lophodon

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Small rounded head and white spots on the fins. It usually sits on a coralline algal turf and can also wedge itself in crevices during large wave sets. It is the most abundant large fish seen in and just below the surge zone on exposed coastal reefs in New South Wales.


Information

Max Size: 45 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 14.1-23.2°C

Depth: 0-10m

Habitat Generalization Index: 24.29

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: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Common (33.6% 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 (4 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