Cobbler (Cnidoglanis macrocephalus)

Scientific name: Cnidoglanis macrocephalus Valenciennes, 1840

Cobbler (Cnidoglanis macrocephalus)

The Cobbler (Cnidoglanis macrocephalus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Plotosidae.

Biology

An inshore marine species which lives in shallow bays and sandy inlets near river mouths. Found most frequently over sand, rocks and weeds in clear to turbid waters. By day, cobblers are most often found in holes and on ledges in banks. They are opportunistic feeders, primarily feeding at night. Food consists of bivalve and univalve mollusks, crustaceans (small prawns and amphipods), polychaete worms, algae and organic debris. Juveniles eat more crustaceans, often from among drifting macrophytic algae. Adults feed mainly on mollusks and polychaetes. They are prey to birds such as cormorants and pelicans. Presence of sharp spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins can inflict painful wounds.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cnidoglanis macrocephalus
Family
Plotosidae (Eeltail catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
91.0
Depth range
30 m (98 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 30 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: endemic to Australia. Present along both eastern and western Australian coasts, from Kirra in southern Queensland to Jervis Bay in New South Wales, and from Kingston in South Australia to the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia. Distributional range extension to the Duck River in Tasmania needs verification.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Venomous
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3; tmax=13; Fec=300)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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