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Bullrout
Notesthes robusta (Günther, 1860)
Two Bullrout at a depth of 3 m, harbour entrance, Nambucca Heads, New South Wales, April 2000. Photo © E. Schlögl. View larger image.
A 4 cm long Bullrout caught at a depth of about 0.3 m, Clyde River Crossing on the River Road, New South Wales. Photo © M. Jones. View larger image.
A Bullrout caught in Lake Curalo, Eden, New South Wales, March 2006 (AMS I.43943-001). Photo © I. Merrington, NSW DPI. View larger image.
Head of a Bullrout caught in Lake Curalo, Eden, New South Wales, March 2006 (AMS I.43943-001). Photo: A. Hay © Australian Museum. View larger image.
The Bullrout has a large head with seven spines on the operculum. It has a big mouth with a protruding lower jaw. The spinous dorsal fin is slightly concave posteriorly and the last soft dorsal ray is attached by a membrane to the caudal peduncle. The body is covered with small scales but the head is scaleless.
It has variable colouration from pale yellowish to dark brown, with blotches and marbling of dark brown, red-brown, grey or black. These markings sometimes form broad irregular bands.
The Bullrout can grow to 30 cm in length, but is more commonly seen up to about 20 cm.
The species lives in tidal estuaries and slow-flowing freshwater streams. It is recorded from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales and has infrequently been caught at sea.
This fish should only be handled with extreme care. The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines all have venom glands. A puncture wound from one of these spines can be excruciatingly painful.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
The common name 'Kroki' has also been used for this species.
Further reading
- Pollard, D.A. & P. Parker. 1996 in McDowall, R.M. (ed) Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
- Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.
