Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Perciformes/Notothenioidei

Family: Bovichtidae

Genus: Bovichtus

Species: Bovichtus variegatus Richardson, 1846

Climate Zone

Location

• Southwest Pacific: New Zealand. Due to a type-locality error, Bovichtus variegatus was wrongly applied to Australian specimens (Ref. 9002).

Biology

Adults are commonly found in rockpools living within deep crevices and holes or under overhangs. They are rarely seen because of their nocturnal habits and camouflaged colour pattern. In some areas, small groups of thronfishes may be seen resting vertically or even upside down on rock faces. Diet consists exclusively of crabs and prawns. Juveniles are pelagic and distinguished by a silvery color pattern with vertical metallic and reddish brown bands (Ref. 9003).

Habitat

benthopelagic

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated

Threat to Humans

Harmless