Aplodactylus arctidens
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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 metres. Their length is between 40 and 60 centimetres.
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
- [Aplodactylus arctidens (TSN 645525)]. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 19 March 2006.
- "[Aplodactylus arctidens]." FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- 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
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