This species has an elongated body form with a large, slightly oblique mouth and an upper jaw extending behind the eye. The lower edge of the preoperculum is serrated with a strong spine at its angle; the operculum has a small spine and a serrated flap above the origin of the lateral line. Its scales are ctenoid. In cross section, the fish is compressed and the dorsal head profile clearly concave. The single dorsal and ventral fins have spines and soft rays; the paired pectoral and pelvic fins have soft rays only; and the caudal fin has soft rays and is truncate and rounded. Barramundi are salt and freshwater sportfish, targeted by many. They have large, silver scales, which may become darker or lighter, depending on their environments.

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Australian bass have a moderately deep, elongated body that is laterally compressed. They have a forked caudal (“tail”) fin and angular anal and soft dorsal fins. Their spiny dorsal fin is of medium height, strong and sharp. They have a medium sized mouth and relatively large eyes than can appear dark in low light or red in bright light. The opercula or gill covers on Australian bass carry extremely sharp flat spines that can cut fishermens’ fingers deeply.

Australian bass vary in colour from gold in clear sandy streams to the more usual bronze or bronze-green colouration in streams with darker substrates and/or some tannin staining to the water.

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A silvery-grey seabream, paler below, with dusky dorsal, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins. This popular angling species is one of the most abundant larger fishes in some northern Australian estuaries.

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A popular angling fish with a silvery to olive-green body, yellowish fins, a black spot at the upper part of the pectoral-fin base, and a dusky margin on the tail. Individuals in coastal waters are silvery, while those in estuaries are usually darker.

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Murray cod are a large grouper-like fish with deep, elongated bodies that are round in cross section. They have a broad, scooped head, and a large mouth lined with pads of very small needle-like teeth. The jaws of the Murray cod are equal, or the lower jaw protrudes slightly.

The spiny dorsal fin of Murray cod is moderate to low in height and is partially separated by a notch from the high, rounded soft dorsal fin. Soft dorsal, anal and caudal (tail) fins are all large and rounded, and are dusky grey or black with distinct white edges. The large, rounded pectoral fins are usually similar in colour to the flanks. The pelvic fins are large and angular and set forward of the pectoral fins. The leading white-coloured rays on the pelvic fins split into two trailing white filaments, while the pelvic fins themselves are usually a translucent white or cream, tending toward opacity in large fish.

Murray cod are white to cream on their ventral (belly) surface. Their back and flanks are usually yellowish-green to green, overlain with heavy darker green, but occasionally brown or black, mottling. The effect is a marbled appearance sometimes reminiscent of a leopard’s markings. Colouration is related to water clarity; colouration is intense in fish from clear water habitats. Small to medium sized Murray cod from clear water habitats often have striking and very distinct colouration. Very large fish tend towards a speckled grey-green colouration.

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The barcheek coral trout (Plectropomus maculatus – from the Latin macula meaning ‘mark’ or ‘spot’ – is similar in shape and colouring to its close relative the common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) and is sometimes mistaken for it.

The barcheek coral trout has several elongated brilliant blue marks with dark edges on its cheeks and side of the head. It has a solid opaque pectoral fin, whereas this fin is translucent in the common coral trout.

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Common Coral Trout vary from red to greenish brown and are covered with a profusion of small blue dots over the body and all fins except the pectoral fins, which are transparent. Colour can vary with time of day, habitat and the activity of the fish. There is a distinctive blue ring around the eye. The soft dorsal fin is rounded and the lunate tail often has a fine white margin. They have a large mouth and sharp widely spaced canine teeth.

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Common Coral Trout vary from red to greenish brown and are covered with a profusion of small blue dots over the body and all fins except the pectoral fins, which are transparent. Colour can vary with time of day, habitat and the activity of the fish. There is a distinctive blue ring around the eye. The soft dorsal fin is rounded and the lunate tail often has a fine white margin. They have a large mouth and sharp widely spaced canine teeth.

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Mud crabs are large crabs with a smooth, broad carapace. They have 9 even sized teeth on each side of their eyes. Their two hind legs are flattened for swimming. In the most common form, the colour varies from very dark brown to mottled green. The other, generally smaller form has a deeper body and is reddish brown.

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Mud crabs are large crabs with a smooth, broad carapace. They have 9 even sized teeth on each side of their eyes. Their two hind legs are flattened for swimming. In the most common form, the colour varies from very dark brown to mottled green. The other, generally smaller form has a deeper body and is reddish brown.

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Categories: Animals