Baldchin Groper, Choerodon rubescens (Günther 1862)


Other Names: Baldchin Tuskfish, Baldchin Wrasse, Baldies, Tuskfish, Westralian Baldchin Groper

A male Baldchin Groper, Choerodon rubescens, at the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Source: Graham Edgar / Reef Life Survey. License: CC BY Attribution

Summary:

A large wrasse with protruding tusk-like teeth in both jaws, and a distinctive white chin and a white patch on the pectoral-fin base. Baldchin Groper vary in colour ranging from yellowish-brown in juveniles to pinkish-grey or greenish-blue in large males.

Video of a Baldchin Groper foraging for food by disturbing the sediment with its pectoral fins.


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2021, Choerodon rubescens in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1927

Baldchin Groper, Choerodon rubescens (Günther 1862)

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to Western Australia between  Ningaloo Reef and Cape Leeuwin in the south. The species is most abundant in the Houtman Abrolhos, about 70 km west of Geraldton, although Baldchin Groper are becoming increasingly common in the Rottnest-Mandurah region further south.

Adults inhabit coastal and offshore reefs, while juveniles often shelter in shallow weedy areas near reefs.

Feeding

Feeds on benthic invertebrates such as squid, octopus, sea urchins and sometimes crustaceans.

Biology

Baldchin Groper are protogynous hermaphrodites, and begin their adult life as females before changing sex during their life cycle to become males. Although they are solitary or live in small groups, during the breeding season, individuals may form large spawning aggregations of up to a hundred fish.They usually mature as females at around 2-3 years of age and 27 cm TL. Theyproduce eggs for several uyears, before changing sex to male at 8-12 years of age and 48-55 cm TL. While usually solitary or inclined to reside in small groups, baldchin have occasionally been observed to ‘aggregate’ or gather in large groups of up to one hundred fish to spawn. At these times, they may be vulnerable to high levels of fishing. Spawning at the Abrolhos Islands usually occurs from early spring to mid-summer, peaking from November to early January. Females are serial spawners, releasing eggs in a series of batches during the breeding season. 

Fisheries

Highly prized by both commercial and recreational fishers, and considered very good eating. The minimum legal size limit for retention (commercial and recreational) is 40 cm, which is above the length at sexual maturity of about 29 cm.

Remarks

Baldchin Groper are being found further south along the Western Australian coast due to ocean warming along the Western Australian coast.

Etymology

The specific name rubescens is from Latin ruber (= red, reddish) and -escens (= becoming) in reference to the reddish colour of the preserved skin of the type specimen: "the ground-colour appears to be reddish, without other markings."

Species Citation

Choerops rubescens Günther 1862, Cat. fishes Brit. Mus. 4: 97. Type locality: Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2021

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Baldchin Groper, Choerodon rubescens (Günther 1862)

References


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Allen, G. 1999. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and south-east Asia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls.

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Cure, K., Hobbs, J. & Harvey, E. 2015. High recruitment associated with increased sea temperatures towards the southern range edge of a Western Australian endemic reef fish Choerodon rubescens (family Labridae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 98: 1059–1067. https://doi. org/10.1007/s10641-014-0339-3

Cure, K., Hobbs, J., Langlois, T., Abdo, D., Bennett, S. & Harvey, E. 2018. Distributional responses to marine heat waves: Insights from length frequencies across the geographic range of the endemic reef fish Choerodon rubescens. Marine Biology 165(1): 1–14. https://doi. org/10.1007/s00227-017-3259-x

Cure, K., Hobbs, J.-P., Langlois, T., Fairclough, D., Thillainath, E. & Harvey, E. 2018. Spatiotemporal patterns of abundance and ecological requirements of a labrid's juveniles reveal conditions for establishment success and range shift capacity. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 500: 34-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2017.12.006

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Fairclough, D.V., Clarke, K.R., Valesini, F.J., Potter, I.C. 2008. Habitat partitioning by five congeneric and abundant Choerodon species (Labridae) in a large subtropical marine embayment. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science 77: 446–456

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Gomon, M.F. 2017. A review of the tuskfishes, genus Choerodon (Labridae, Perciformes), with descriptions of three new species. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 76: 1-111. http://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2017.76.01

Grant, E.M. 1991. Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : EM Grant Pty Ltd 480 pp.  

Günther, A. 1862. Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Acanthopterygii Pharyngognathi and Anacanthini in the collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum Vol. 4 534 pp. See ref at BHL

Hoschke, A., Whisson, G. & Moore, G.I. 2019. Complete list of fishes from Rottnest Island. pp. 150-161 in Whisson, G. & Hoschke, A. (eds) The Rottnest Island fish book. 2nd ed. Perth : Aqua Research and Monitoring Services.

Hutchins, J.B. 1990. Fish survey of South Passage, Shark Bay, Western Australia. pp. 263-278 in Berry, P.F., Bradshaw, S.D. & Wilson, B.R. (eds). Research in Shark Bay: Report of the France-Australe Bicentenary Expedition Committee. Perth : Western Australian Museum. 

Hutchins, J.B. 1994. A survey of the nearshore reef fish fauna of Western Australia's west and south coasts — The Leeuwin Province. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 46: 1-66 figs 1-6 

Hutchins, J.B. 1997. Checklist of fishes of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. pp. 239-253 in Wells, F. (ed.) The Marine Fauna and Flora of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum. 

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Nardi, K., Newman, S.J., Moran, M.J. &  Jones, G.P. 2006. Vital demographic statistics and management of the baldchin groper (Choerodon rubescens) from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Marine and Freshwater Research 57: 485-496.  https://doi.org/10.1071/MF05187

Puckridge, M., Last, P.R. & Andreakis, N. 2015. The role of peripheral endemism and habitat associations in the evolution of the Indo-West Pacific tuskfishes (Labridae: Choerodon). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 84: 64-72

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Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37384039

Biology:Hermaphrodite

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:0-30 m

Fishing:Commercial & recreational fish

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:100 cm TL

Native:Endemic

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CAAB distribution map