Genypterus tigerinus

Rock ling
Genypterus tigerinus
Genypterus tigerinus, Adelaide, SA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith

Similar Species

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Large, mottled eel-like species that is closely related to the cods. The dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the tail, and the ventral fins lie below the head and have been reduced to probing feelers. During the day, adult rock ling remain in caves, where they are often mistaken for conger eels, while juvenile animals are observed in sheltered seagrass habitats.


Information

Max Size: 120 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 10.7-21.7°C

Depth: 0-60m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

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: Infrequent (5.4% 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: Solitary (1 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