Bullrout
Encyclopedia
The Bullrout, Notesthes robusta, also commonly called "Freshwater Stonefish" or "Kroki", is a pale yellowish to dark-brown coloured fish
that lives in tidal estuaries
and slow-flowing streams in eastern Australia, from Southern New South Wales
, up to northern Queensland, Australia. It has on a very infrequent occurrence been caught at sea. Its spines are poisonous. It is the only member of the genus Notesthes.
. It has a big mouth with a protruding lower jaw. The spinous dorsal fin is slightly concave posteriorly and the last soft dorsal ray is attached by a membrane to the caudal peduncle. The body is covered with small scales but the head is scaleless. Its colouration is variable from pale yellowish to dark brown, with blotches and marbling of dark brown, red-brown, grey or black. These markings sometimes form broad irregular bands. It is believed that Bullrout grow up to 30 cm in size, but are more commonly found at the 20 cm size.
. A puncture wound from one of these spines can be excruciatingly painful. For immediate relief of pain associated with the sting of a bullrout, immerse the affected area in hot water.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
that lives in tidal estuaries
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
and slow-flowing streams in eastern Australia, from Southern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, up to northern Queensland, Australia. It has on a very infrequent occurrence been caught at sea. Its spines are poisonous. It is the only member of the genus Notesthes.
Identification
Bullrout has s large head, seven spines on the operculumOperculum (fish)
The operculum of a bony fish is the hard bony flap covering and protecting the gills. In most fish, the rear edge of the operculum roughly marks the division between the head and the body....
. It has a big mouth with a protruding lower jaw. The spinous dorsal fin is slightly concave posteriorly and the last soft dorsal ray is attached by a membrane to the caudal peduncle. The body is covered with small scales but the head is scaleless. Its colouration is variable from pale yellowish to dark brown, with blotches and marbling of dark brown, red-brown, grey or black. These markings sometimes form broad irregular bands. It is believed that Bullrout grow up to 30 cm in size, but are more commonly found at the 20 cm size.
Danger to humans and first aid
The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines on a bullrout have venom glands on them, and should be handled with extreme care. A puncture wound from one of these spines can be excruciatingly painful. For immediate relief of pain associated with the sting of a bullrout, immerse the affected area in hot water.