often have vermiculations or vague spotting. This species attains a maximum total length of . Distribution and habitat The South Australian cobbler is endemic to the temperate southern coasts of Australia. Its distribution extends from the central coast of New South Wales to Perth, Western Australia. It is found in shallow inshore waters and estuaries at depths between in beds of seagrass. Biology The South Australian cobbler is a nocturnal ambush predator, with the smaller fish feeding mainly on shrimp and small crabs and the larger fish being more piscivorous. It stays motionless during the day. These fishes attain sexual maturity at 2 to 4 years old. The adults leave the seagrass beds in the late winter and early spring, congregating in deeper water in very large aggregations, thought to be spawning aggregations. It is s slow growing species and large individuals are much older, often in excess of 210 years of age. in comparison to other species at the same size. They can live for more than 14 years. The adults gave venom-bearing spines on the infraorbital bone, preopercular bone and in the dorsal, anal and pectoral fins. Utilisation The South Australian cobbler is taken as bycatch in both commercial and recreational fisheries. Venom The South Australian cobbler is well defended with venomous spines on the head and in the fins. People who have been envenomated by this fish rarely die, symptoms of envenomation include severe pain around the envenomated area of the body, swelling, nausea, perspiration, paralysis of the limbs and fainting. In worst cases the venom may interfere with the functioning of cardiovascular system. References External links FishBase entry for Gymnapistes marmoratus South Australian cobbler Venomous fish Marine fish of Southern Australia South Australian cobbler Taxa named by Georges Cuvier