Find a Fish
Tarwhine
Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål, 1775)
A school of Tarwhine at a depth of 12m, South Solitary Island, New South Wales, April 2000. View larger image.
The Tarwhine can be recognised by its silver body with rows of yellow spots forming stripes. The pelvic and anal fins are usually yellow but fade with age. It grows to 45cm and weights up to 1.4kg.
This species lives in schools in bays, harbours and coastal areas. It is found widely throughout the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is recorded on the east coast from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria and on the west coast from central to southern Western Australia.
The Tarwhine is sometimes confused with the Yellowfin Bream Acanthopagrus australis (fact sheet) and the Black Bream Acanthopagrus butcheri. However, both breams lack the golden stripe colouration visible in the Tarwhine. The Tarwhine also has a more rounded snout, and a greater number of scale rows above the lateral line. There are 6-7 rows in the Tarwhine and 4 rows in the two breams. Another distinguishing feature is the length of the third anal spine. In Tarwhines it is equal to the length of the second anal spine, whereas in the two breams the third spine is shorter.
Further reading
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
