Estuary Cobbler, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus (Valenciennes 1840)

Other Names: Cobbler, Estuarine Cat-fish, Estuary Catfish, South Australian Catfish

Summary:

A large mottled brownish-yellow catfish with stout dorsal and pectoral-fin spines and five pairs barbels surrounding the mouth. Estuary catfish have large venomous dorsal and pectoral-fin spines that are capable of inflicting very painful wounds.

Video of an Estuary Cobbler at Shelly Beach, Sydney

Cite this page as:

Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2018, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 16 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2758

Estuary Cobbler, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus (Valenciennes 1840)

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to temperate coastal waters of southern Australia, from Moreton Bay, Queensland, to the Abrolhos Islands (Western Australia), but absent from most of Victoria and Tasmania; occurs in Eastern Victoria (to about Lakes Entrance) and Duck River, northern Tasmania. The Estuary Cobbler inhabits marine and estuarine waters in bays and sandy or muddy inlets near river mouths. Individuals live on sandy and muddy bottoms in clear to turbid waters, often amongst rocks and algae. They also occur amongst wrack (detached seagrass and macroalgae) in the surf zone. The species is usually nocturnal, and individuals often shelter in holes and beneath rocky ledges during the day.
Features	Dorsal fin I, 4; Anal fin 95-112; Pectoral fin I, 9; Pelvic fin 9-12. Body shallow (11-15% SL), very elongate, thick anteriorly, compressed and tapering to a point posteriorly. Head large (20-23% SL), depressed anteriorly; eyes small (13-16% HL), covered by skin, located dorsolaterally on head; mouth small (upper jaw length 26-28% HL), inferior, overlapped by large fleshy lips, underside of lips papillose, mouth surrounded by four pairs of long fleshy barbels, fifth pair on snout; small patch of short canines at front of each jaw; forward end of opercular membrane attached to underside of head below and behind eye. Scales absent; lateral line represented by pores, straight except for curve above pectoral fins. Dorsal fin with short base, arising above pectoral fin base, spine serrate, enveloped in skin; anal and caudal fins continous, caudal continuing forward on back to just behind dorsal fin, resembling a second dorsal fin; caudal-fin rays slightly longer than anal-fin rays, anal fin originating almost as far forward as dorsal side of caudal fin. Anal fin preceded by large fleshy dentritic organ. Pectoral and ventral fins small, paddle-like; pectoral fin arising midlaterally behind head, spine serrate; pelvic fins arising below pectoral-fin tips.
Size	To a total length of about 91 cm SL.
Colour	Variously mottled dark brown to grey, often with speckles of cream or yellow, underside of head and belly creamy.
Feeding	Omnivore - feeds mostly at night on fishes and benthic invertebrates including crustaceans, molluscs and polychaete worms. Individuals also consume algae and detritus.
Biology	The sexes are separate, fertilisation is external, and females lay large demersal eggs during spring and summer. Adult males guard the newly hatched larvae between their pelvic fins.
Fisheries	A major component of both commercial and recreational fisheries in New South Wales and Western Australia.
Conservation	IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient
Remarks	The dorsal and pectoral-fin spines are serrated and have a venom gland at the base. The venom is injected into punctured skin via a groove in the spine, causing an extremely painful wound.
Etymology	The species is named macrocephalus for its large head: macro- (large) and cephalus (head).
Species Citation	Plotosus macrocephalus Valenciennes, 1840 in Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss.15: 428, pl. 449. Type Locality: Timor Island, southern Malay Archipelago (probably in error for Tasmania, Australia).
Author	Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2018
Resources	Australian Faunal Directory

Estuary Cobbler, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus (Valenciennes 1840)

References

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