Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 4, 2026

Herring cale

The herring cale is a species of ray-finned fish, a weed whiting from the family Labridae, which is endemic to Australia where it is found along the southern and southeastern coast. It inhabits the surf zone, ranging to a depth of 30 m (100 ft) in rocky areas with plentiful growth of brown algae, which it feeds on. This species grows to a length of 51 cm (20 in) SL. This species is the only known member of the genus Olisthops, but it has frequently been placed in Odax instead.

Last revised
Jul 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
237 w
Citations
5
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Herring cale
Terminal phase (top)
Initial phase (bottom)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Subfamily: Hypsigenyinae
Genus: Olisthops
Richardson, 1850
Species:
O. cyanomelas
Binomial name
Olisthops cyanomelas
Synonyms
  • Odax cyanomelas (Richardson, 1850)
  • Olistherops brunneus Macleay, 1878
  • Olistherops brownii Johnston, 1884
  • Odax nebulosus Saville-Kent, 1893

The herring cale (Olisthops cyanomelas) is a species of ray-finned fish, a weed whiting from the family Labridae,2 which is endemic to Australia where it is found along the southern and southeastern coast. It inhabits the surf zone, ranging to a depth of 30 m (100 ft) in rocky areas with plentiful growth of brown algae, which it feeds on. This species grows to a length of 51 cm (20 in) SL.3 This species is the only known member of the genus Olisthops,4 but it has frequently been placed in Odax instead.3

  • Terminal phase
    Terminal phase
  • Terminal phase
    Terminal phase
  • Initial phase
    Initial phase
References

References

  1. Russell, B.; Clements, K.D.; Choat, J.H.; Rocha, L.A.; Myers, R.; Lazuardi, M.E.; Muljadi, A.; Pardede, S.; Rahardjo, P. (2012). "Olisthops cyanomelas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012 e.T190679A17774029. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190679A17774029.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Hypsigenyinae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  3. "Herring cale, Odax cyanomelas". Australian Museum. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  4. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Olisthops cyanomelas". FishBase. February 2014 version.