View source for Rock cod

{{for|other fishes named "rockcod"|rockcod (disambiguation){{!}}rockcod}}
{{short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Lotella_rhacina.jpg
| name = Rock cod
| taxon = Lotella rhacina
| authority = ([[Johann Reinhold Forster|J. R. Forster]], 1801)
| synonyms = *''Gadus rhacinus'' <small>Forster, 1801</small> 
*''Lotella fuliginosa'' <small>[[Albert Günther|Günther]], 1862</small> 
*''Lotella callarias'' <small>Günther, 1863</small> 
*''Lotella marginata'' <small>[[William John Macleay|Macleay]], 1881</small> 
*''Lotella swanii'' <small>Johnston, 1883</small> 
*''Lotella limbata'' <small>[[James Douglas Ogilby|Ogilby]], 1886</small> 
*''Lotella macleayi'' <small>Rendahl, 1921</small> 
}}
The '''rock cod''' ('''''Lotella rhacina''''') is a temperate [[fish]] found off the coasts of southeastern [[Australia]], [[Tasmania]], the [[Great Australian Bight]] and northwards up the southwestern Australia coasts. They are also found around the coasts of [[New Zealand]] and California. They belong to the family [[Moridae]] and are not related to the true [[cod]]s (genus ''Gadus''). They are also known as '''beardie''' in Australia.

Rock cod are yellow-grey to red-brown with white fin margins. They have chin [[barbel (anatomy)|barbel]]s. They may grow up to 50&nbsp;cm in length. They are found in caves in bays and coastal reefs. They are frequently found inshore and inhabit shallow waters in the [[continental shelf]] with typical depth of 10 to 90 m.

Many other fish species are sometimes called 'rock cod', but most are unrelated to the cod family, and are better known as [[grouper]]s.

==References==
* {{ITIS |id=622984 |taxon=''Lotella rhacina'' |accessdate=19 March 2006}}
* {{FishBase|genus=Lotella|species=rhacina|year=2005|month=November}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2660267}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rock cod}}
[[Category:Moridae|rock cod]]
[[Category:Marine fish of Southern Australia]]
[[Category:Marine fish of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1801|rock cod]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Reinhold Forster]]


{{Gadiformes-stub}}