LATRIDAE: TRUMPETERS

© G. Edgar

The Latridae (also known as Latrididae) is a small family of commercial and game fishes, found in Southern Hemisphere waters (principally Australia, New Zealand, Southern Atlantic, Chile, and sub-Antarctic waters). Characteristics of trumpeters include a large number of dorsal and anal fin rays and spines, small scales, a forked tail, and small conical or narrow pointed teeth (Kuiter, in Gomon et al., 1994).

There are 3 genera in the family (Latridopsis, Latris and Mendosoma), and all three are found in southern Australian waters. The family contains 5 species (Smith et al., 2003; Froese and Pauly, 2009). Four species occur in Australia (CSIRO, 2009), these being the Bastard Trumpeter Latridopsis forsteri, the Tasmanian Trumpeter Latris lineata, the Real Bastard Trumpeter or Telescope Fish Mendosoma lineatum, and the Blue Moki Latridopsis ciliaris, closely related to L. forsteri, but considered to be a separate species (see Smith et al., 2001). The recently described Silver Trumpeter Latris pacifica from sea mounts of the South Pacific (Roberts, 2003) is also closely related to L. lineata in genetic composition, and considered to be a “sister species” (Smith et al., 2003).

Trumpeters are esteemed for their high quality flesh, and in Australia, they are particularly valuable in Tasmania, where they are commonly caught and marketed. Bastard Trumpeter and Tasmania Trumpeter are heavily fished in south-eastern Australia, and although they are not targeted in large quantities in South Australia, that State is generally regarded as the edge of the geographic range for both species. The third species, Mendosoma lineatum (= M. allporti), was considered by IMCRA Technical Group (1996) to be one of the indicator species for the Tasmanian Province, which extends from the north-eastern tip of Tasmania at Cape Naturaliste, encircling the west, south and east coasts, up to Cape Grim at its north-western extremity. It is noted that M. lineatum is recognised phylogenetically as a distinct species (Smith et al., 2003). The fourth species, Blue Moki Latridopsis ciliaris, is not discussed in a synopsis below, because it occurs mostly in New Zealand, where it is a significant commercial species. The Blue Moki is closely related to the Bastard Trumpeter L. forsteri (Smith et al., 2001). In New Zealand during the 1970s, about 1000t per annum of Blue Moki were taken. Langley and Walker (2004) summarised the Blue Moki fishery in New Zealand. Most of the catch comes from the central east coast of the North Island, within a larger fishing area that encompasses the North Island and west coast of the South Island; however about 15% of the catch comes from the east coast of the South Island. The Blue Moki catch is principally taken by set net (about 60%) and bottom trawl (about 40%). Blue Moki caught by set net are mostly targeted or a bycatch of the Blue Warehou fishery. Blue Moki is also taken as a bycatch of the Tarakihi and shark (Rig and School Shark) target set net fisheries.

Associated taxa