Southern School Whiting

Interesting Info

• The Southern School Whiting is a coastal marine fish species primarily found along the coasts of Western Australia and South Australia.
• Juvenile Southern School Whiting have a silver body with distinct dark bands running vertically along their sides. As they mature, these bands become less prominent, and the overall coloration turns more silver-grey.
• Their diet primarily consists of small crustaceans, worms, and other small invertebrates found in sandy or muddy substrates.
• They are known for their schooling behaviour, hence its name. They often form large schools that move and feed together, providing a spectacular sight for onlookers.
• These fish are highly adaptable and can tolerate a wide range of salinity levels, allowing them to inhabit both estuarine and marine environments.
• Southern School Whiting are known for their exceptional camouflage abilities. Their silver-grey coloration and streamlined body shape help them blend into the sandy or muddy substrate, making them less visible to predators and prey.
• Their breeding habits typically occur during the warmer months, such as late spring and summer, in estuaries and shallow coastal waters. With males construct nests in sandy or gravelly areas near the water’s edge to attract females for egg deposition.
• The female Whiting produces numerous small, adhesive eggs that attach to the sand or other surfaces until they hatch.
• Their estimated average lifespan is between 5 – 7 years, but up to 10 years in ideal conditions.