Saddletail grouper
Encyclopedia
Epinephelus daemelii, known as black cod or black rock-cod in Australia, and as saddle-tailed grouper or spotted black groper in New Zealand
, is a large marine
fish of the family
Serranidae
. Black cod is found off the coastline of south-eastern Australia
and northern New Zealand
, generally inhabiting near-shore rock and coral reefs at depths down to 50 metres. Its main range comprises the coastline of the Australian state of New South Wales
; New Zealand populations are suspected to be non-breeding, and a result of drifting larvae.
Black cod grows to 200 centimetres in length and at least 68 kilograms in weight. The species is a generalised carnivore, preying on crustaceans and fish. It has a typical groper appearance. Colouration varies from a dark grey-black colour to the more usual blotched or banded black and white pattern.
The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with individuals starting as females and changing to males at an estimated 100–110 centimetres in length and 29–30 years of age.
Drastic but localised declines in black cod stocks around heavily populated areas were first noted in the early 1900s. However, in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, black cod populations suffered a very severe decline due to the rise in popularity of spear fishing. The species was heavily targeted by spear fishermen and caught in large quantities. Due to the species' large size, slowness, curiosity and territorial habits, and use of inshore habitats, it was extremely vulnerable to spear fishing. Fishing for or taking the species became illegal in 1983 in all New South Wales waters under New South Wales fisheries legislation but the species has largely failed to recover. New South Wales has since listed black cod as a vulnerable species.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, is a large marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
fish of the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Serranidae
Serranidae
Serranidae is a large family of fishes, belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species of serranids in 64 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers...
. Black cod is found off the coastline of south-eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and northern New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, generally inhabiting near-shore rock and coral reefs at depths down to 50 metres. Its main range comprises the coastline of the Australian state of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
; New Zealand populations are suspected to be non-breeding, and a result of drifting larvae.
Black cod grows to 200 centimetres in length and at least 68 kilograms in weight. The species is a generalised carnivore, preying on crustaceans and fish. It has a typical groper appearance. Colouration varies from a dark grey-black colour to the more usual blotched or banded black and white pattern.
The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with individuals starting as females and changing to males at an estimated 100–110 centimetres in length and 29–30 years of age.
Drastic but localised declines in black cod stocks around heavily populated areas were first noted in the early 1900s. However, in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, black cod populations suffered a very severe decline due to the rise in popularity of spear fishing. The species was heavily targeted by spear fishermen and caught in large quantities. Due to the species' large size, slowness, curiosity and territorial habits, and use of inshore habitats, it was extremely vulnerable to spear fishing. Fishing for or taking the species became illegal in 1983 in all New South Wales waters under New South Wales fisheries legislation but the species has largely failed to recover. New South Wales has since listed black cod as a vulnerable species.