(Image credit: Graham Edgar)

Species common to New South Wales and south to Victoria. Rare in Tasmania, sightings are limited to the Kent Group islands. Generally the rock cale has no teeth, a rounded nose or snout and small white spots on their fins and sides. Likes to feed in shallow waters and protects itself from big swell by lodging itself in rock crevices. MALE: Colour varies from dark grey, to olive-brown and black; FEMALE: Colour varies from dark grey to brown; JUVELILE: Juveniles have a white patch on the gill cover or opercle.

AKA: Cockatoofish, rock cocky, joey

Length: Up to 45 cm

Habitat

Exposed shallow reef; 0-10 m depth

Log it

Log the rock cale wherever it is spotted in Tasmanian and Victorian waters

Related links/info

Species names on the Redmap site are based on the Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota or CAAB (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/caab/). This is updated regularly and lists the approved common name, family, species name and more.

Redmap species descriptions were based, with permission, on the following resources:

Australian Marine Life: The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters by G. J. Edgar, Revised Ed. (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne

Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast, Edited by M. Gomon. D. Bray and R. Kuiter (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne

Fishes of Tasmania by P. Last, E. Scott and F. Talbot (1983). Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority, Hobart

Find further information and images at FISHES OF AUSTRALIA http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/