Latris lineata (Forster, 1801)
Striped trumpeter
Latris lineata
photo by CSIRO

Family:  Latridae (Trumpeters)
Max. size:  120 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 25 kg; max. reported age: 43 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 400 m
Distribution:  Southern Hemisphere: Atlantic Ocean (from Tristan da Cunha and Gough I.); Indian Ocean (Walter Shoals and Saint Paul's I. and Amsterdam Is., Western Australia, across South Australia to southern New South Wales and Tasmania; Pacific Ocean (New Zealand, Bay of Plenty, east to the Chatham Is, and south to the Snares Is. and the subantarctic Auckland Is.). Latris hecateia has been listed in Chile, but records are questionable (Ref. 76767).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 17-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 33-38; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 26-30; Vertebrae: 37-37. This species can be distinguished from all other latrids and cheilodactylids (and most percoids) by having anal fin soft rays 26-30; vertebrae 16+21 = 37; a striped body colour pattern comprising three dark bands running longitudinally on the upper body and onto the opercular series and head, with a broader faint band on the flank and a narrow dorsal median band running along the nape and head in front of the dorsal fin (Ref. 76767).
Biology:  Adults apparently prefer broken rocky reefs, rich in 'coral' and other invertebrate life. Reported to be frequently found over rocky places, especially narrow channels between two cliffs in fjords of New Zealand. May spawn closer to shore (Ref. 9563) but probably in areas of deeper waters, otherwise they seem to migrate offshore to spawn (Ref. 85801). Collected by bottom trawls, dropline, and rod and line (Ref. 76767). In Australia, adults are found over rocky reefs at depths from 5 to 300 m (Ref. 53584).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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