Finetooth Beardie, Eeyorius hutchinsi Paulin 1986

Other Names: Beardie, Finetooth Beardy, Fine-tooth Beardy, Tasmanian Codling

Summary:

A dark brown beardie becoming paler below, with dusky dorsal, anal and caudal fins with fine pale brown margins.
The Finetooth Beardie shelters under ledges during the day before venturing out to feed at night.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2021, Eeyorius hutchinsi in Fishes of Australia, accessed 15 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3010

Finetooth Beardie, Eeyorius hutchinsi Paulin 1986

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to southern Australia, from off Wilson's Promontory, Victoria, to off Perth, Western Australia, including Tasmania. Inhabits rocky reefs in sheltered bays and shallow coastal waters at depths to 25 m. A secretive species, usually sheltering in caves and crevices during the day.
Features	Dorsal fin 6 + 52-58; Anal fin 43-48; Caudal fin 24; Pectoral fin 24-25; Pelvic fin 4; Lateral-line pores ~30; Vertebrae 42-44. Body robust, tapering gradually; head broad (as broad as widest part of body), slightly depressed, oval in cross-section; snout rounded, not projecting beyond mouth; eye relatively large, about 2/3rds snout length; chin barbel prominent, slightly longer than the eye diameter; upper jaw extending to below rear margin of eye; jaw teeth small, pointed, arranged in 5-6 irregular rows forming a brush-like band; teeth absent from vomer and palatines. First dorsal fin short-based, originating behind pectoral-fin base; second dorsal and anal fins long-based; pectoral fins rounded, inserted at midbody, 50% HL; pelvic fins with a flattened base, the two outermost rays longest, almost reaching anus (falling short of anus by length of eye diameter); caudal fin rounded.
Feeding	Carnivore.
Biology	Almost nothing is known of the biology of this species.
Similar Species	Eeyorius hutchinsi differs from species of the genus Lotella in having a band of small brush-like teeth in the jaws (vs. an outer row of relatively large, widely spaced sharp pointed teeth). Eeyorius also has a depressed head that is oval in cross section (vs. head rounded in cross-section in Lotella).
Etymology	The generic name Eeyorius is from the character Eeyore, in the book Winnie the Pooh - both the fish and the literary character live in damp dark places. The species is named for Dr Barry Hutchins, former Curator of Fishes at the Western Australian Museum.
Species Citation	Eeyorius hutchinsi Paulin, 1986, Mem. Mus. Victoria 47(2): 204, figs 1-3. Type locality: Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, 38°09´S, 144°52´E.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2021
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Finetooth Beardie, Eeyorius hutchinsi Paulin 1986

References

Cohen, D.M. 1990. Families Moridae, Muraenolepididae. pp. 346-384 in Cohen, D.M., Inada, T., Iwamoto, T. & Scialabba, N. FAO Species Catalogue. Gadiform fishes of the world (order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 10 442 pp.

Gomon, M.F. 1994. Families Moridae, Melanonidae, Euclichthyidae, Merlucciidae. pp. 324-340 figs 290-303 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

Gomon. M.F. 2008. Family Moridae. pp. 302-315 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

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.

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.

Kuiter, R. & Kuiter, S. 2018. Coastal sea-fishes of south-eastern Australia. Seaford, Victoria : Aquatic Photographics, 371 pp.
Paulin, C.D. 1986. A new genus and species of morid fish from shallow coastal waters of southern Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 47(2): 201-206 See ref at BHL