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Black bream (Girella elevata) — Kyphosidae

Black bream

Girella elevata
Family: Kyphosidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Black bream (Girella elevata) is a saltwater fish of the family Kyphosidae that grows up to 62 cm.

Length
62 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–25.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Southeastern Australia and New Zealand
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The black drummer is a perch-like fish from the southwestern Pacific, along the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. The species grows to about 62 cm and has a deep, robust, dark body with a small mouth. It lives on rocky coastal reefs and in the surf to about 25 metres depth; large schools form around rocky outcrops and under jetties. By day it shelters among rocks, in caves and under ledges. The fish grazes mainly on algae and seaweed. It is a popular game fish in southeastern Australia. The IUCN has not evaluated the species (NE).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black bream?

The Black bream has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern. Dark, stocky rock-dweller; forms shoals around rocky points

Where does the Black bream live?

The Black bream lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Southeastern Australia and New Zealand

How big does the Black bream get?

The Black bream grows to a maximum of about 62 cm.

Is the Black bream dangerous to humans?

No, the Black bream 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 Black bream edible?

The Black bream is rarely eaten.

More photos

Black bream (Girella elevata) — Kyphosidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Cabrils (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Black bream (Girella elevata) — Kyphosidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) martyhing, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Black bream (Girella elevata) — Kyphosidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) offshore_, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Black bream (Girella elevata) — Kyphosidae — 5
offshore_ (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
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All data

Identification

English name
Black bream verified
Scientific name
Girella elevata
Family
Kyphosidae
Other names
Black drummer; Blackfish; Darkie; Eastern rock blackfish; Eastern rock blackfish drummer; Mangrove fish; Pacific bream; Pig; Rock blackfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
62.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Natural range
Southeastern Australia and New Zealand verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae and seaweed inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Resident fish on rocky coastal reefs; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Dark, stocky rock-dweller; forms shoals around rocky points sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing from rocks with bread, seaweed or shellfish as bait. sourced
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

Same genus Girella

More from the family Kyphosidae

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