Rock blackfish
Girella elevata
No. of sightings: 10
Rock Blackfish are considered a reef dwelling NSW species that has a range that can extend from southern Queensland to northern and north east Tasmania. May reach sizes of 7kg although usually about 2kg in Tasmania.
Identified by its dark bluish black colour, they have small mouths to enable them to feed on algae and invertebrates from the sea floor. Juveniles mottled and banded.
AKA: Black Drummer
Family: Kyphosidae known as drummers.
Family members also on the Redmap list: luderick and zebrafish
Habitat: Reef
Size: Less than 80cm
Image: NSW DPI
Log it: Log the rock blackfish if you spot it in the north-west, west or south of St Helens on the east coast
