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Bass strait whiting (Sillago bassensis) — Sillaginidae

Bass strait whiting

Sillago bassensis
Family: Sillaginidae

The Bass strait whiting (Sillago bassensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Sillaginidae that grows up to 33 cm.

Length
33 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–60.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The southern school whiting is a sand whiting (Sillaginidae) from the temperate coastal waters of southern Australia. The species has a slender, elongate, sand-coloured body with a pointed head, adapted to life on sandy bottoms. It lives close to the sea bed over sandy substrates, in the surf zone of beaches and in quiet waters of bays and sandbanks, and is trawled to at least 55 m deep. It lives in schools and searches with its inferior mouth for worms, small crustaceans and molluscs. It is a valued food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bass strait whiting?

The Bass strait whiting has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bass strait whiting live?

The Bass strait whiting lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bass strait whiting get?

The Bass strait whiting grows to a maximum of about 33 cm.

Is the Bass strait whiting dangerous to humans?

No, the Bass strait whiting is harmless to humans.

Is the Bass strait whiting edible?

Yes, the Bass strait whiting is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zuidelijke schoolsillago sourced
English name
Bass strait whiting verified
Scientific name
Sillago bassensis
Family
Sillaginidae
Other names
Bass whiting; Red spot whiting; Sand whiting; School whiting verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
33.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
60.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Wordt met sleepnetten en hengel op zandbodems van kustwateren bevist. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Sillago

More from the family Sillaginidae

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