Anchor Tuskfish

Interesting Info

• The Anchor Tuskfish can be found from the northern coast of Western Australia, around the Northern Territory, and down to the southern coast of Queensland.
• They are most notably recognised by their two-tone body colour, the front half is dark grey or black, and the rear half is white or pale. They also have a distinguishing mark at the base of their tail, which resembles an anchor, hence their name.
• Anchor Tuskfish are carnivores and feed primarily on invertebrates, including crustaceans and molluscs, which they dig out from the sandy seabed using their strong teeth.
• Anchor Tuskfish are relatively solitary creatures. They are active during the day (diurnal), spending most of their time feeding and defending their territory.
• Anchor Tuskfish exhibit a unique monogamous mating system, where each male maintains a territory and mates with a single female. During the spawning season, the female lays a large number of eggs that float freely in the water column. The male then fertilises these eggs. The eggs and subsequent larvae are planktonic, meaning they drift in the ocean currents until they reach a suitable habitat and metamorphose into juveniles
• Estimated lifespan is between 10 – 12 years.