Black drummer

Girella elevata, the rock blackfish, Eastern rock blackfish, black rockfish or Eastern rock blackfish drummer is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea chub from the family Kyphosidae. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean around eastern Australia and northern New Zealand.

Habitat

Girella elevata show a preference as adults for areas of rocky reef in exposed situations where they can be found from the surf zone down to around 25 metres (82 ft). They are frequently observed by divers in caves or below ledges. The juveniles occur in rockpools, estuaries and areas of rocky reef in shallow waters. This species may live as long as 45 years. It is omnivorous and feeds on a range of invertebrates and algae.

Distribution

Girella elevata is found in the south-western Pacific Ocean in coastal eastern Australia and northern New Zealand. In Australia it occurs from Noosa Heads, Queensland south to Apollo Bay in Victoria and northern Tasmania, although it is rare west of Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. It is also found around Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.

Rock blackfish have been reported in waters off Japan, although these were most likely Girella leonina or punctata, both having “blackfish” as part of their Japanese names (both of which are primary targets of Japanese ISO fishers, who sometimes charter helicopters for day trips to offshore islands to fish for them). Another related species that can be mistaken for elata is the dusky sea chub, Girella freminvillii, which has been seen in the Galápagos Islands.