Find a Fish
Rock Blackfish
Girella elevata Macleay 1881
A Rock Blackfish at a depth of 8 m, Bermagui, NSW, April 2005. Photo © S. Schulz. View larger image.
A juvenile Rock Blackfish in a rockpool,Wollongong, NSW, January 2006. Photo © S. Schulz. View larger image.
A juvenile Rock Blackfish being cleaned by a Stripey in a rockpool, Wollongong, NSW, January 2006. Photo © S. Schulz. View larger image.
Juvenile Rock Blackfish are generally a dark-brown colour. Adults are uniformly blue-black.
The species grows to about 60 cm in length and a weight of 7kg.
In Australia, it occurs from southern Queensland to north-eastern Tasmania, plus Lord Howe Island. It is also recorded from New Zealand.
Juvenile Rock Blackfish are found in rockpools, estuaries and shallow rocky reef areas. Adults prefer exposed rocky reef areas from the surf zone to depths of around 25 m. Divers often see this species in caves or under ledges.
This fish is a popular angling species. It is valued for its fighting ability and eating qualities.
The Rock Blackfish is also known as Black Drummer, Eastern Rock Blackfish and ‘Pig’, for the sounds it makes when landed by anglers.
Related links
- View the Family Kyphosidae list
- View the Luderick, Bluefish & Drummers list
Further reading
- Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2006
Page researched and compiled by
S. Schulz & M. McGrouther, July 2007.
