Dr. John Turnbull, Marine Explorer, Australien
Info
Girella tricuspidata has 11-12 fine, dark, pointed bars on a bluish-grey to grey-brown body a bluish-gray to gray-brown body that fades to silvery-white below.
These zebra fishs also have a small mouth, small eyes eyes, a large tail and an evenly curved back and belly profile.
The upper side of the Girella tricuspidata's body is dark greenish gray, while the sides silver-grey on the sides and belly, with about 11 narrow dark vertical stripes below the dorsal fin, which fade on the lower part of the body.
The head and pectoral fins are occasionally yellowish, the fins are otherwise pigmented like the adjacent body parts.
Ludericks, which occur in estuaries, are usually dark grey to brown in color , whereas in coastal waters they are usually bluish-gray in coastal waters.
The adults form large aggregations and migrate from rivers, estuaries and coastal lakes to spawn in the mouths of estuariesand in the surf zone.
Juveniles usually settle in seagrass meadows and migrate to the deeper parts of estuaries and coastal reefs as they grow.
Etymology:
The specific name “tricuspidata” is derived from the Latin from the Latin “tri” (= three) and “cuspidatus” (= pointed) and refers to the three cusps on the teeth of this species.
Possible confusion with the zebrafish, Girella zebra (Richardson 1846) are possible, however the body bars of Girella zebra are clearly more dagger-shaped and broader.
