Home · Serranidae · Boot
Boot (Acanthistius ocellatus) — Serranidae

Boot

Acanthistius ocellatus
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Boot (Acanthistius ocellatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The eastern wirrah is a sea bass (Serranidae) from the temperate coastal waters of eastern Australia. The species has a stocky, brownish body studded with small, light-blue or white spots. It is a bottom-dweller of coastal reefs, where it keeps among rocks and crevices. As an ambush hunter it feeds on crustaceans and small fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Boot?

The Boot has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Boot live?

The Boot lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Boot get?

The Boot grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Boot dangerous to humans?

No, the Boot is harmless to humans.

Is the Boot edible?

The Boot is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Oostelijke wirrah sourced
English name
Boot verified
Scientific name
Acanthistius ocellatus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Eastern wirrah; Meat wirrah; Mother-in-law fish; Peppermint cod; Wirrah verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Acanthistius

Argentine seabass (Acanthistius brasilianus) — Serranidae
Argentine seabass
Acanthistius brasilianus
Serranidae
 Brick seabass (Acanthistius pictus) — Serranidae
Brick seabass
Acanthistius pictus
Serranidae
 Leopard wirrah (Acanthistius pardalotus) — Serranidae
Leopard wirrah
Acanthistius pardalotus
Serranidae
 Paxton's wirrah (Acanthistius paxtoni) — Serranidae
Paxton's wirrah
Acanthistius paxtoni
Serranidae
 Western wirrah (Acanthistius serratus) — Serranidae
Western wirrah
Acanthistius serratus
Serranidae

More from the family Serranidae

Strawberry hind (Cephalopholis spiloparaea) — Serranidae
Strawberry hind
Cephalopholis spiloparaea
Serranidae
 Ghanaian comber (Serranus accraensis) — Serranidae
Ghanaian comber
Serranus accraensis
Serranidae
 African basslet (Liopropoma africanum) — Serranidae
African basslet
Liopropoma africanum
Serranidae
 African hind (Cephalopholis taeniops) — Serranidae
African hind
Cephalopholis taeniops
Serranidae
 Agassiz's seabass (Cratinus agassizii) — Serranidae
Agassiz's seabass
Cratinus agassizii
Serranidae
 Ara (Niphon spinosus) — Serranidae
Ara
Niphon spinosus
Serranidae
 Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) — Serranidae
Areolate grouper
Epinephelus areolatus
Serranidae
 Argentine seabass (Acanthistius brasilianus) — Serranidae
Argentine seabass
Acanthistius brasilianus
Serranidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →