Blue-spotted Tuskfish

Interesting Info

• The Blue-spotted Tuskfish is mainly found in the marine waters of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, from the North West Cape in WA, around the tropical north and up to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the NT. The distribution range includes both coastal and offshore reefs.
• They are is a colourful fish, marked by a pale greenish-grey body covered in brilliant blue spots. They also possess a prominent canine tooth at the back of each side of the lower jaw, which is what gives them the name “Tuskfish.”
• Blue-spotted Tuskfish are carnivorous, feeding mostly on invertebrates such as crustaceans and molluscs, and occasionally fish. They use their tusk-like teeth to crack open shells and consume the prey inside.
• They are known for their fascinating feeding behaviour. These fish pick up clams or sea urchins in their mouths, swim to a suitable rock, and then throw the prey against it to break it open.
• Blue-spotted Tuskfish typically spawn during Australia’s warmer months, from October to February, with males often exhibiting vibrant coloration and courtship displays to attract females. Their mating system is presumed to be polygynous, where one male mates with multiple females, and the fertilisation process is typically external. After hatching, the larvae drift in open waters before eventually settling on reefs as juveniles.
• They estimated lifespan is up to 10 years.