Boarfish is the common name of two unrelated groups of fishes:
Caproidae, or boarfishes, are a small family of marine fishes comprising two genera and 19 species. These fishes are found throughout the world in temperate and tropical seas.
Pentacerotidae or armourheads are a small family of ray-finned fishes in the order Acropomatiformes. They are native to the Indian Ocean, western and central Pacific, and southwestern Atlantic. They are generally found at rocky reefs below normal scuba diving depths, although several species occur in low densities at shallower depths.
The brownspotted grouper, also known as the brown spotted reef cod, brown-spotted rockcod, coral grouper or honeycomb cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It has an Indo-Pacific distribution but in the northern Indian Ocean this distribution is discontinuous. It forms part of a species complex with two closely related species in the genus Epinephelus.
The longfin boarfish, also known as the blackspot boarfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, an armourhead from the family Pentacerotidae which is native to the coasts of southern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. It can be found over the continental shelf and the continental slope at depths from 25 to 540 m. This species can reach a length of 40 cm (16 in). It can also be found in the aquarium trade, and is currently the only known member of the genus Zanclistius.
Paristiopterus labiosus, the giant boarfish, is a species of armorhead native to the coastal waters of southern Australia, and New Zealand. It occurs over the continental shelf at depths from 20 to 200 m. This species can reach a length of 100 cm (39 in). It is a commercially important species.
The striped boarfish, also known as whiskered boarfish, Japanese boarfish, sailfin armourhead or whiskered armorhead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, an armourhead of the family Pentacerotidae, which is native to the Pacific Ocean from the Hawaiian Islands westward to the coast of Asia and Australia. This is a reef-dwelling fish found at depths between 18 and 193 m. It can reach a total length of 90 cm (35 in). It is currently the only known member of the genus Evistias.
Pentaceros richardsoni, the pelagic armourhead, Richardson's boarfish or southern boarfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, an armourhead from the family Pentacerotidae. It has a wide distribution in the oceans of the southern hemisphere. It is commercially important as a food fish.
The spotted estuary smooth-hound or rig is a houndshark of the family Triakidae, found on the continental shelves and in estuaries around New Zealand. It is closely related to the gummy shark of Australia. Males can grow up to a length of 125 cm (49 in), while females can reach a length of 151 cm (59 in).
The spotted wobbegong is a carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae, endemic to Australia. It is a large, robust species, typically reaching 150–180 centimetres (59–71 in) in length. Coloured green, yellow, or brown, it has distinctive O-shaped spots throughout its body. It is nocturnal, resting at day and feeding on fish and invertebrates at night. An ovoviviparous species, the spotted wobbegong gives birth in the spring, during which time males can act aggressively towards other males and females. It has been known to bite humans, sometimes unprovoked, which can produce severe wounds. The species is fished commercially in Australia, but it is not severely threatened. It is listed as a least-concern species on the IUCN Red List.
The Australian spotted catshark is a species of shark belonging to the family Pentanchidae, the deepwater catsharks. This species is found only around Australia between 32 and 38°S, at depths between 10 and 180 m. It can grow up to 90 cm (35 in). Females of this species were observed as being reproductive year round. They are also confirmed as being a single oviparous species.
Kuhl's maskray, also known as the blue-spotted stingray, blue-spotted maskray, or Kuhl's stingray, is a species of stingray of the family Dasyatidae. It was recently changed from Dasyatis kuhlii in 2008 after morphological and molecular analyses showed that it is part of a distinct genus, Neotrygon. The body is rhomboidal and colored green with blue spots. Maximum disk width is estimated 46.5 cm (18.3 in). It is popular in aquaria, but usually not distinguished from the blue-spotted ribbontail ray. The ribbontail has a rounded body, is a brighter green with brighter blue and more vivid spots, but Kuhl's maskray is larger. The stingray's lifespan is estimated at 13 years for females and 10 years for males. The blue-spotted stingray preys on many fish and small mollusks. It is also generally found from Indonesia to Japan, and most of Australia. Kuhl's maskray also is targeted by many parasites, such as tapeworms, flatworms, and flukes.
The spotted stingaree is an uncommon species of stingray in the family Urolophidae, endemic to shallow waters along the coast of southern Australia. It favors rocky reefs and seagrass beds. This species can be readily identified by its nearly circular, dark-colored pectoral fin disc, adorned with a complex pattern of white or cream spots. Its eastern and western forms differ slightly in coloration and have been regarded as separate species. There is a skirt-shaped curtain of skin between its nostrils. Its tail is fairly thick and terminates in a short leaf-shaped caudal fin; a relatively large dorsal fin is present just in front of the stinging spine.
The deepbody boarfish, or robust deepsea boarfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Caproidae, the boarfishes. This fish is found in the warmer waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Capros, the boarfish or Zulu fish, is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Caproidae. Its only known species is Capros aper. The boarfish is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean.
The short boarfish, also known as Hutchin's boarfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, an armourhead from the family Pentacerotidae. It is endemic to the southern coast of Western Australia. It is found on the continental shelf at depths from 10 to 80 m. This species grows to a total length of 34 centimetres (13 in), and is the only known member of its genus.
Paristiopterus is a genus of armorheads native to the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, along with these recognized species:
The longsnout boarfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, an armourhead from the family Pentacerotidae. It is endemic to the temperate waters of the southern coast of Australia including around the island of Tasmania. It is found over the continental shelf at depths from 3 to 260 m, though usually at less than 40 m (130 ft). It is carnivorous and its diet consists mostly of polychaete worms, brittle stars, and brown algae. It is trawled throughout its range, though is not a commercially important species and catch rates are low. It is the only known member of its genus.
The blackspotted gurnard, also known as the half-spotted gurnard, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Triglidae, the gurnards and sea robins. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
