Baldchin Groper, Choerodon rubescens (Günther 1862)

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

A male Baldchin Groper, Choerodon rubescens, at the Abrolhos Islands, 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 white pectoral-fin base. Baldchin Groper vary in colour, and range from yellowish-brown in juveniles to pinkish-grey or greenish-blue in large males.

Baldchin Groper, found only in Western Australia, are very popular with commercial fishers and recreational anglers.

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

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray, Choerodon rubescens in Fishes of Australia, accessed 01 Mar 2020, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/1927

Baldchin Groper, Choerodon rubescens (Günther 1862)

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to Western Australia between Coral Bay and Cape Naturaliste, and most abundant at the Abrolhos Islands, about 70 km west of Geraldton. Adults inhabit coastal and offshore reefs, while juveniles often shelter in shallow weedy areas near reefs.
Feeding	Carnivores - feed 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 form large spawning aggregations of up to one hundred fish.
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.
Species Citation	Choerops rubescens Günther 1862, Cat. fishes Brit. Mus. 4: 97. Type locality: Houtman Abrolhos, WA.
Author	Dianne J. Bray
Resources	Australian Faunal Directory

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.

Fairclough, D.V. 2005.The biology of four tuskfish species in Western Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University.

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.

Hatcher, B.G. 1991. Coral reefs in the Leeuwin Current – an ecological perspective. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 74: 115-127.

Hutchins, B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea fishes of southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Swainston, Perth, Australia.

Hutchins, J.B. 1979. The marine fishes of Rottnest Island. Creative Research, Perth

Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270.

Nardi, K. 1999. The life history and the effect of protected areas on the baldchin groper (Pisces:Labridae) at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Master of Science thesis, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.

Platten, J. R., Tibbets, I. R. & Sheaves, M. J. 2002. The influence of increased line-fishing mortality on the sex ratio and age of sex reversal of the venus tusk fish. Journal of Fish Biology 60: 301-318.

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Sumner, N. & Williamson, P. 1999. A 12-month survey of coastal recreational boat fishing between Augusta and Kalbarri on the west coast of Western Australia during 1996-97. Fisheries WA Research Report No. 117, Fisheries Western Australia, Perth.

Sumner, N.R., Williamson, P.C. & Malseed, B.E. 2002. A 12-month survey of recreational fishing in the Gascoyne bioregion of Western Australia during 1998-99. Fisheries WA Research Report No. 139.

Walker, M.H. 1983. Aspects of the life history of baldchin groper trapped at the Abrolhos Islands. Fins 16(3): 4-7.

Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Ward, R.D. (eds) 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook. Hobart : CSIRO Marine Research 460 pp.