Herring Cale

About

Herring Cale have teeth in both jaws fused into a parrot-like beak with serrate edges and like most wrasses, this species changes both sex and colour throughout its life

Juveniles are greyish to brownish above, yellowish below, with dark brown blotches, spots and lines, and a broken pearly stripe on the side.  

Females are brown, darker above, with narrow blue wavy lines on the head; each scale with bluish white spot, fins brown with wavy blue lines.Males are pale blue to almost black with bright blue lines along the margins of the caudal fin, along the leading edge of the pectoral fin and on the snout.

This species was previously known as Odax cyanomelas

Size

Can grow to around 50cm

Habitat

It inhabits inshore rocky areas especially amongst kelp in the surge zone. Occurs in kelp forests, along exposed rocky coasts usually with brown macroalgae, and in Amphibolis griffithii seagrass beds

Distribution

Southern Australia from Angourie Point, northern New South Wales, to the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia, and around Tasmania

Gallery

Select any photo or video to view it large with its details and credits.

📷 Erik Schlogl 📷 Wild Roo Designs 📷 Wild Roo Designs 📷 Wild Roo Designs 📷 Wild Roo Designs 📷 Wild Roo Designs 📷 Wild Roo Designs 📷 wildroo 📷 wildroo 📷 wildroo 📷 wildroo 📷 wildroo 📷 wildroo 📷 wildroo

Local Sightings

2 recorded sightings in and around the area.

References & citations (2)

1. Red List (accessed 2021-09-22 14:03:33)
2. Dianne J. Bray, Olisthops cyanomelas in Fishes of Australia (accessed 2021-09-22 14:03:33)