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Australian mado (Atypichthys strigatus) — Kyphosidae

Australian mado

Atypichthys strigatus
Family: Kyphosidae
LC · Least Concern

The Australian mado (Atypichthys strigatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Kyphosidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Southeastern Australia
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Australian mado is a small, schooling reef fish from the southwest Pacific, off southeastern Australia. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, silvery body with yellow and black longitudinal stripes. It forms large schools over rocky reefs and in tidal pools and feeds on zooplankton, algae and small benthic life. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Australian mado?

The Australian mado has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Yellow and black stripes; small schooling reef bass

Where does the Australian mado live?

The Australian mado lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Southeastern Australia

How big does the Australian mado get?

The Australian mado grows to a maximum of about 25 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Australian mado dangerous to humans?

No, the Australian mado is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Australian mado edible?

The Australian mado is rarely eaten.

More photos

Australian mado (Atypichthys strigatus) — Kyphosidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Erik Schlögl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Australian mado (Atypichthys strigatus) — Kyphosidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Erik Schlögl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Australian mado (Atypichthys strigatus) — Kyphosidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Erik Schlögl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Australian mado (Atypichthys strigatus) — Kyphosidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Christopher Mark, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Australian mado verified
Scientific name
Atypichthys strigatus
Family
Kyphosidae
Other names
Mado; Mado sweep verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Average length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Southeastern Australia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton, algae and small bottom life inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling reef dweller; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Yellow and black stripes; small schooling reef bass sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Kyphosidae

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