Centropogon australis (White, 1790)
Eastern fortescue
Centropogon australis
photo by Banks, I.

Family:  Tetrarogidae (Wasp fishes)
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Queensland to Victoria, Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 15-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5; Vertebrae: 26-27. Presence of a large horizontal spine below the eye, a dorsal fin which originates just behind the posterior edge of the eye, and venomous dorsal spines.
Biology:  Found in seagrass beds in estuaries (extremely common during reproductive season in the austral Spring) and coastal bays, and sponge gardens on inshore reefs. Venomous dorsal spines often inflict a painful sting to fishers (Ref. 34095, 39597). Of no commercial importance but often entrapped in fishing gears such as trawls and can be dangerous to fishermen who attempt to remove these (Ref. 39597).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  venomous


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