Teleostei (teleosts) >
Centrarchiformes (Basses) >
Terapontidae (Grunters or tigerperches)
Etymology: Hephaestus: Taken from Haphaistos, the God of fire in the Greek mythology; 1658 (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Ogilby & McCulloch.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 25°C - 30°C (Ref. 2060)
Oceania: endemic to Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 33.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2060)
Adults occur in lentic and lotic freshwater (Ref. 7300). They inhabit clear, rapid streams (sometimes very small creeks) flowing over sand and mud; also in rocky pools. Prefer the upper reaches of coastal drainages. Water temperatures are always above 15°C. Feed on crustaceans (especially prawns) and small fishes. Spawning in the wild has been recorded in November and probably continues through to early autumn (March). Eggs are guarded and fanned by the male parent (Ref. 205). Sexual maturity is reached at a size of about 13 centimeters. Juvenile coal grunter is attractive and popular in the aquarium hobby. Closely related and nearly identical in appearance to H. raymondi from south-western Papua New Guinea (Ref. 44894).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Eggs are guarded and fanned by the male parent (Ref. 205).
Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen and J.E. Hanley, 1989. Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Vol. 7. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 665 p. (Ref. 7300)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01288 (0.00598 - 0.02775), b=3.05 (2.86 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (23 of 100).