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Twospine blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) — Percichthyidae

Twospine blackfish

Gadopsis bispinosus

The Twospine blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) is a freshwater fish of the family Percichthyidae that grows up to 32 cm.

Length
32 cm
Water
Freshwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

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Description

The twospine blackfish is a freshwater perch (Percichthyidae) from clear, cool mountain rivers of southeastern Australia. The species grows to about 32 cm and has an elongate, olive-brown to marbled body with a long dorsal fin and small pelvic fins. As a nocturnal, resident bottom predator it shelters by day among stones and fallen wood and hunts insect larvae, crustaceans and small fish at night. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Twospine blackfish?

The Twospine blackfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Twospine blackfish live?

The Twospine blackfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Twospine blackfish get?

The Twospine blackfish grows to a maximum of about 32 cm.

Is the Twospine blackfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Twospine blackfish 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.

More photos

Twospine blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) — Percichthyidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Henry Albert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Twospine blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) — Percichthyidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) georgetelehin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Twospine blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) — Percichthyidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) jz01, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Twospine blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) — Percichthyidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) fraserasquith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Twospine blackfish sourced
Scientific name
Gadopsis bispinosus
Family
Percichthyidae
Other names
Two-spined blackfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
32.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Gadopsis

More from the family Percichthyidae

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