Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro, 1949)
Black bream
Acanthopagrus butcheri
photo by Good, P.

Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
Max. size:  60 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,000.0 g; max. reported age: 29 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: endemic to southern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-10. The upper body can vary from silvery to golden brown, bronze, green or black depending on habitat. Chin and belly are usually white and fins are dusky to greenish black. Dorsal and ventral profiles of adults are similarly convex.
Biology:  Endemic in coastal areas, rivers and estuaries of Australia. Most abundant in river mouths and estuaries (Ref. 28468, 28472). Inhabit brackish waters of coastal rivers and lakes, occasionally penetrating fresh water (Ref. 44894). Considered as the only true estuarine sparid in Australia. Larvae and small juveniles are most abundant over seagrass beds in shallow estuarine waters (Ref. 28468, 28472). Spawning period varies considerably between estuaries (Ref. 28468). Remain upstream in sheltered waters to spawn and is not usually found in purely marine habitats (Ref. 44894). Feed on shellfish, worms, crustaceans, small fish and algae. Sold as whole, chilled products in domestic markets (Ref. 6390). One of top angling species in southern Australia (Ref. 6390, 44894), as well as being a delicious table fish (Ref. 2156).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 December 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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