© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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CEPOLIDAE: BANDFISHES

(Drawing from Waite, 1921. Reproduced by University of Washington Libraries, Freshwater and Marine Image Bank)

The Cepolidae is a relatively uncommon family of elongate, burrow-dwelling fishes that feed on zooplankton, and live in areas of level bottom where soft sand or mud sediments exist, in which they can dig their burrows (Glover, in Gomon et al., 1994; Smith-Vaniz, 2001).
Most fish in the family are small (less than 40cm) and elongate, with a pink- or red-coloured body, and with a compressed, tapering body and lanceolate caudal fin. Features that distinguish the bandfishes from all other families include the combination of a lanceolate tail, large oblique mouth, and the arrangement of the pelvic-fin rays (Smith-Vaniz, 2001).
Bandfishes are taken by trawls over the range, in shallow to deep depths (to at least 475 m). In some parts of the Central Western Pacific, Bandfishes are consumed by local people as a food source (Smith-Vaniz, 2001).
Globally, there are 5 genera and around 21 named species in the family (Froese and Pauly, 2007), and although 3 of the genera and at least 6 species are found in Australian waters, only one is known from the southern Australian coast (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986, 2001; Glover, in Gomon et al., 1994).

Associated taxa

Australian Bandfish / Bandfish

Cepola australis Ogilby, 1899