A cool water species which overlaps with other similar drummers in the warmer parts of its range. Very similar to K. bigibbus and K. sectatrix, but best distinguished by larger body scales and a lighter base portion of the tail fin. A very similar species found only in Western Australia, K. gladius, has recently been described, separated from the Western Australian population of K. sydneyanus. These two species form mixed schools at Rottnest Island (and probably further north).

• Max Size: 80 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 13.3-24.9°C
• Depth: 1-20 m
• Habitat: Rocky Reef, Seagrass
• Habitat Generalisation Index: 20.4
  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

• IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
• Occurrence: Common (29% 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: Several (8 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.