General Description

Head large, flattened with low, mostly spineless ridges, mouth large with greatly enlarged canines on jaws, gill cover with two strong, similar-sized spines at angle. Grey-brown above with many small reddish orange spots, and often several large greyish blotches along midsides, pale below; fins spotted, tail mostly dusky, especially on outer middle part, pale near base, with a few small faint dusky blotches dorsally. To 65 cm.

Biology

An extremely important commercial species, and very popular with anglers in Port Phillip (Victoria) over summer. Their fin spines are venomous.

Distribution

South-eastern Australia.

Habitat

Bays and along the coast, on sandy and silty bottoms, in depths of 10-160 m.

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