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Australian Bandfish

Australian Bandfish

Cepola Australis

Quick Facts

Scientific nameCepola Australis

Other namesBandfish

SizeUp to 38 cm (15 in)

WeightUnder .50 kg (1.10 lb)

FamilyBandfish / Cepolida

Distribution

Habitat & AU DistributionCoastal waters, muddy burrows

Depth Range1 - 70 m (3 - 229 ft)

The Australian Bandfish is a long, slender fish with a striking pink to red body. It can grow to about 25 cm long, though its ribbon-like shape makes it look much larger at first glance.
This species is found only in Australia. Its range runs from northern Queensland down the east coast and around to eastern South Australia, taking in a long stretch of tropical and warm temperate water.
The Australian Bandfish lives an unusual life for a fish: it digs a burrow in soft, muddy sediment on the seabed and spends much of its time inside it. Burrows offer shelter and a base from which to feed.
It can be found anywhere from a few metres below the surface down to depths of over 70 m. Deeper fish tend to be a deeper red, while those in shallower water are often pinker.
Its body is built for tight spaces. The dorsal and anal fins run almost the full length of the body and connect smoothly to the pointed tail. This gives the fish one long, continuous fin from head to tail.
The Australian Bandfish has large eyes relative to its slim head, which is useful for picking up movement in low light near the seabed.
Its mouth is large and set at an angle, pointing slightly upward. This shape suggests it feeds by lunging upward to catch prey passing above the burrow entrance.
Scientists have noted that what is currently called the Australian Bandfish may actually be more than one species. Further study across its full range is needed to sort this out.
Because it lives in burrows and keeps close to the bottom, the Australian Bandfish is not often seen by divers or caught by anglers. Much of what is known about it comes from trawl and dredge records.
There is still quite a lot to learn about Australian Bandfish in the wild. Their breeding habits, lifespan and diet in Australian waters have not been well studied.

Species Interaction

Australian Bandfish: A Rarely Seen Species of Scientific Note

Research & Rare Encounters
Ecosystem Role

The Australian Bandfish is not a species most people ever encounter. It lives in burrows on soft sediment in coastal and estuarine waters, and its secretive habits mean it rarely appears in recreational catches or commercial landings. Its main significance to people is scientific: the holotype specimen caught in Sydney Harbour in 1885 was among the earliest fish formally described from those waters, giving it a modest but lasting place in Australian ichthyological history.

Species
Sustainability

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis
Family: Cepolidae
Genus: Cepola
Species: Cepola australis

Conservation Status

The Australian Bandfish has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List, and it carries no listing under Australia’s EPBC Act. It is endemic to Australian waters and is not targeted by commercial fisheries. The Australian Museum notes that fish currently identified as Cepola australis may represent more than one species, meaning its true range and status remain incompletely understood.