Long-snouted boarfish

Long-snouted boarfish
Image: Nick Long
Community type

Reef fish

Habitat type

Rocky reefs, kelp beds and inter-tidal zone

Named for their extremely long snout, this is one of the most beautiful fish on Tasmanian rocky reefs. Their long snout is accompanied by long fins and a long tail, and they have large diagonal black stripes. Preferring sheltered reefs, the long-snouted boarfish show some territorial behaviour, confronting divers who swim near them. This makes them an easy target for spear fishers, and their capture by this method has been banned. Growing up to 50 cm in length, long-snouted boarfish have very small mouths, and feed on small crustaceans and worms.

Much of the text within the species area of our website was written by Veronica Thorpe, as part of the Derwent River Wildlife Guide (2000).

The DEP has developed a variety of classroom and outdoor activities focused around the key estuary habitats of tidal wetlands, salt marshes and rocky reefs. These include classroom materials, online resources, interpretive walks, games and sensory experiences.