The Many Coloured Grunter

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 25

Adults prefer to inhabit deeper, slow flowing portions of creeks and rivers. Juveniles occupy shallow, still waters or occasionally in riffle habitat. Frequently encountered shoaling in the middle of the water column around snags, also observed in large schools (> 50 fish) patrolling up and down stream reaches. Occurs in clear waters over rocky substrates, usually where algae are in abundance. There is an apparent segregation by size/age with large adult fishes (> 200 mm) appearing restricted to the lower catchment, while juveniles and sub-adults only stay in the upper catchment. Feeds mainly on filamentous algae that are scraped off rocks with its modified teeth (Ref. 119336).