Aplodactylus arctidens

Taxobox
name = Marblefish
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Aplodactylidae
genus = "Aplodactylus"
species = "A. arctidens"
binomial = "Aplodactylus arctidens"
binomial_authority = Richardson, 1839

The marblefish or southern seacarp, "Aplodactylus arctidens", is a marblefish of the genus "Aplodactylus", found in south eastern Australia, and around New Zealand, in depths down to 40 m. Their length is between 40 and 60 cm. The marblefish is a large heavy-bodied fish with a blunt rounded snout, a long deeply notched dorsal fin, and thick fleshy pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins that are used as props when the fish is resting on the bottom.

The body colour is uniform olive brown, finely mottled with white on the body and fins. There is a small downward facing mouth at the tip of the snout bearing 5 or 6 rows of tiny trilobed teeth in each jaw that are used for eating seaweed which is its diet, although invertebrates are probably also taken up with the algae. When not feeding they rest in caves and crevices in areas of seaweed.

References

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* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8