Achoerodus gouldii
The western blue groper is a species of wrasse native to coastal waters of southern Australia from the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia to west of Melbourne.
This species prefers areas with rocky substrates and can be found at depths of from 1 to 65 m. Their diet consists of other fishes, crabs, lobster, various molluscs including abalone, and starfish. This species grows to a length of. Weights of up to have been recorded. They have a single long-based dorsal fin, a large squarish tail, thick fleshy lips, large heavy scales and peg-like teeth. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries. In South Australia the species is protected in the gulfs but needs state wide protection to achieve ecologically meaningful results. It is considered by many experts to be functionally extinct in Gulf Saint Vincent and mature adults are now rare in Spencer Gulf. In light of the fact that it's the top order territorial bony rocky reef fish in this State, full protection should be a matter of high priority.
The species was formally described by the naturalist John Richardson in 1843 from a specimen taken to the British Museum by John Gould, who Richardson honoured in the specific name he gave to this fish.
