Student Stuff
Eastern Blue Groper
Achoerodus viridis (Steindachner, 1866)
A male Eastern Blue Groper at a depth of 6 m, Kurnell, New South Wales, 1999. Photo © T. Hochgrebe. View larger image. View movie of this fish.
A female Blue Groper at a depth of 10 m, western wall, Fly Point Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, New South Wales, May 2005. Photo © D. & L. Atkinson. View larger image.
A male Eastern Blue Groper at a depth of 12 m, 'The Gutter', Bass Point, New South Wales, December 2000. Photo © H. Rothenfluh & P. Zylstra. View larger image.
Like most wrasses, as the Eastern Blue Groper ages, it passes through several stages. Juveniles are all female. As the fish matures, it goes through an initial phase (IP) during which the fish could be either male or female. Adult females are reddish brown. Adult males develop bright blue colouration. These fish have reached the terminal phase (TP).
This species grows to 1.2 m in length.
Adults are found in a wide range of habitats from shallow waters, down to 40 m. Juveniles are usually found in estuarine seagrass beds.
The Eastern Blue Groper is endemic to Australia. It is found in coastal, marine waters from southern Queensland to Wilson's Promontory, Victoria. It is particularly well known to scuba divers in New South Wales and was made the fish emblem for New South Wales in 1996.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
The Eastern Blue Groper is particularly susceptible to spearfishing and in the past was taken in large numbers by spearfishers. As a result of this, the species was given total protection status in New South Wales waters in 1969. In 1974, angling and commercial fishing were allowed again, but spearfishing was still prohibited. In 1975, concern over the large catches by commercial fishers led to a ban on bottom-set gill nets. Blue Groper were banned from sale in 1980.
View a low resolution movie clip (202k) of this species. Go to the movies page for high and low resolution versions.
Related links
- Rules for diving & spearfishing in NSW waters (Department of Primary Industries - Fisheries)
- More information on The Gutter
- View more information on sex change in fishes.
- View the Wrasses list
Further reading
- Gomon, M.F & B.C. Russell in Gomon, M.F, J.C.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.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
