Phylum Chordata, Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Actinopterygii (pronounced ac-tin-op-ter-idge-ee-eye) are the group of animals most people would call a fish. Specifically these are ray-finned fishes because they possess “fin rays”, their fins being webs of skin supported by bony or horny spines on the side of their bodies. There are over 23000 species. Sharks and rays do not belong to this group (see Chondrichthyes).
Acanthaluteres spilomelanurus
Bridled Leatherjacket
Habitat: Sheltered seagrass, reef; 0 – 10 m depth
Distribution: around Tas and from WA to NSW
Maximum Size: Length to 140 mm
Diet: Small invertebrates
Comments: Males of this species have a distinctive bridle-like marking across the head and along the body, with iridescent blue spots. Juveniles and females tend to be mottled brown, and may be difficult to distinguish from toothbrush leatherjackets.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/787
MDC locations: aquaria
Aldrichetta forsteri
Yellow-eye mullet
Habitat: Sheltered sand, seagrass; 0-20m depth
Distribution: around Tas and from WA to NSW
Maximum Size: length to 500mm
Diet: juveniles feed on plankton, medium size fish feed on benthic crustaceans and molluscs, while larger fish eat algae.
Comments: this is the most common species of mullet in southern Australia, and is fished commercially.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4534
MDC locations: aquaria
Aracana aurita
Shaw’s Cowfish
Habitat: sheltered and moderately exposed reef and seagrass; 0-200m depth
Distribution: around Tasmania and from WA to NSW
Size: length to 250mm
Diet: small invertebrates
Comments: The cowfish is given its box-like shape by the series of rigid triangular plates covering its body. They often find food by blowing a jet of water from their mouth to uncover prey from beneath the sediment. Pictured to the left are the male of the species (top) and the female (bottom) showing the distinctive colour and pattern of each.
For more information see http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Aracana+aurita
http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/833
http://eol.org/pages/209489/overview
MDC locations: aquaria
Conger verreauxi
Southern Conger eel
Habitat: Sheltered and moderately exposed reef
Depth: 0-80m
Size: to 2m in length
Diet: small to medium sized fish
Distribution: around Tas and from SA to eastern Vic
Comments: Conger eels remain hidden in caves during daylight hours, emerging at night to feed. This species of eel has a long dorsal fin which starts just above the tip of the pectoral fin and runs to the end of the tail. Whilst not usually aggressive, conger eels will defend themselves if caught on lines or in cray pots.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3442
MDC locations: viewing pool
Diodon nicthemerus
Globe fish, porcupine fish, pufferfish
Habitat: sheltered and moderately exposed reefs and sand; 0-50m depth
Distribution: found around Tasmania and from NSW to WA
Comments: This slow swimming fish has a dark grey back, white belly and dark blotches on its sides. It is distinguished by the yellow spines covering its body. The globe fish can inflate its body with water or air if threatened, causing it to become lodged in the throat of a would-be predator. Like other members of the Diodontidae family, the flesh is poisonous if eaten. This fish may grow to 30cm in length.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/921
MDC locations: aquaria
Forsterygion varium
Many-rayed threefin
Habitat: Sheltered reef, 0-10 m
Distribution: Eastern Tasmania, also New Zealand
Maximum size: 150mm in length
Comments: Generally living concealed on shallow reefs, this species is abundant on the east coast of Tasmania, particularly in the Derwent Estuary and d’Entrecasteaux Channel, but is found nowhere else in Australia. Males of the species are brighter than females and have bluish tips to their fins.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/22
MDC locations: aquaria
Heteroclinus perspicillatus
Common weedfish
Habitat: Sheltered reef, seagrass; 0-10m depth
Distribution: all around Tas and southern Australia
Maximum Size: length to 200mm
Diet: Small shellfish, shrimps
Comment: The common weedfish is the most abundant of this family, and is distinguished from other weedfish by the shape of the tentacles below its mouth, the arrangement of spines and rays along its dorsal fin and the pattern on its body. Typically, this fish has a blackish brown spot beneath the first dorsal fin and rows of tiny reddish spots along its fins.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/6
MDC locations: aquaria
Hippocampus abdominalis
Big Bellied Seahorse
Habitat: Sheltered and moderately exposed reef; 0 – 12 m depth
Distribution: SA to NSW, and around Tasmania
Maximum Size: Length to 250 mm
Diet: Mysids (small shrimps)
Comments: This species of seahorse is commonly found around Tasmania. Seahorses are unique because the males have the babies. That is, the male incubates the eggs in his brood pouch until they are ready to hatch. Seahorses are under threat due to large numbers being dried and exported to Asia for use as aphrodisiacs. For this reason, the animals in our tank were purchased from a seahorse breeding company rather than taken from the wild.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3332
MDC locations: aquaria
Kuiterichthys furcipilis
d’Entrecasteaux anglerfish
Habitat: muddy bottom, 10-40m depth
Distribution: only known in D’Entrecasteaux Channel
Maximum Size: Length to 10cm
Diet: crustaceans and polychaete worms
Comments: Anglerfish are specialised bottom dwellers, using their modified pectoral fins to crawl on the sea floor, and are closely related to handfish. The first dorsal spine is modified into a ‘lure’ to attract prey. Anglerfish possess a pore-like gill opening near the base of their pectoral fins.
For more information http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Kuiterichthys+furcipilis
MDC locations: aquaria
Latris lineata
Stripey trumpeter
Habitat: Exposed reef
Depth: 0-300m
Size: to 1.2m in length
Diet: small invertebrates and fish
Distribution: Around Tasmania and from Albany WA to NSW
Comments: Once common in shallow waters around Tasmania, stripey trumpeter are now almost exclusively found in deep water due to heavy fishing. Stripey trumpeter can attain up to 25kg in weight. The individuals in our pond were donated by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/685
MDC locations: aquaria
Neoodax balteatus
Little Rock Whiting
Habitat: Sheltered and moderately exposed seagrass, reef; 0 – 20 m
Distribution: around Tasmania and from Fremantle WA to Sydney NSW
Comments: Juveniles and females have a dark stripe along the side, a brown upper body and a pale belly. The less numerous males have deeper, reddish brown bodies, blue trim to the fins and blue stripes along the head. Little rock whiting grow to 140mm.
For more information http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/299
MDC locations: aquaria
Notolabrus tetricus
Blue-throated Wrasse, Kelpie
Habitat: reef
Depth: 1-160m
Size: Length to 500mm
Diet: small invertebrates
Distribution: around Tasmania and from SA to NSW
Comments: This is the most common species of wrasse on Tasmanian reefs. Juveniles are green or brown in colour but as they mature into females, these fish gain a black stripe followed by a white stripe across the body. Large females transform into males and develop a rounded bluish head and yellow pectoral and pelvic fins.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/257
MDC locations: viewing pool
Parablennius tasmanianus
Tasmanian Blenny
Habitat: Rocky reef, sponge beds; 0-10m depth
Distribution: around Tas and from SA to NSW
Size: length to 130mm
Diet: small invertebrates and algae
Comments: Recognisable by its small size and long fringed tentacles over the eye, the Tasmanian Blenny makes its home in small rock crevices, shells or discarded bottles cans. During spawning season females guard clusters of eggs, which are attached to the sides of their nests. Females have a light coloured body with dark bands and spots (top picture), while the males are darker in colour (bottom picture). Blennies do not have scales.
For more information see http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Parablennius+tasmanianus#
MDC locations: aquaria
Platycephalus bassensis
Sand Flathead
Habitat: Sheltered sand, silt
Depth: 0-100m
Size: Length to 460mm
Diet: Fish, crabs, shrimp and squid
Distribution: around Tasmania and from WA to NSW
Comments: This species of flathead is the most commonly caught around Tasmania. Flathead lie on the seafloor, camouflaged against the sand to surprise passing prey. The various flathead species have different arrangements of spots, blotches and lines on their tails. They have dorsal spines running the length of their body. Flathead reach their approximate maximum size at 16 years, and at this age can weigh over 2kg.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3356
MDC locations: viewing pond
Pseudophycis bachus
Red cod
Habitat: Sheltered and moderately exposed sand, silt, reef
Depth: 0-375m
Size: to 800mm
Diet: Small invertebrates such as shrimp
Distribution: around Tasmania and from SA to Vic; also NZ
Comment: The red cod shows a prominent barb under the chin and has a dark blotch on either side of the body near the base of the pectoral fins. They have a pinkish-orange colouration under the throat. This species tends to be active only after nightfall.
For more information see http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Pseudophycis+bachus
MDC locations: viewing pool
Rhombosolea tapirina
Greenback flounder
Habitat: Sheltered sand, 0-100m depth
Distribution: around Tas and from WA to NSW; also NZ
Maximum Size: length to 450mm
Diet: polychaete worms and other bottom dwelling invertebrates
Comments: Juveniles of this species are often found on sand flats in water less than 1m deep, while the adults are usually in deeper water. This species of flounder usually captures prey by digging in the sand.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/994
MDC locations: aquaria
Solegnathus spinosissimus
Spiny Pipehorse
Habitat: sand, silt; 3-400mdepth
Distribution: around Tasmania and also Vic, NSW and NZ
Size: length to 470mm
Diet: small invertebrates such as mysids
Comments: A member of the Syngnathid family (also includes seahorses, seadragons and pipefish) pipehorses carry their eggs under the tail. This species is pinky-orange and has a distinctive red spot near its anus.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1472
MDC locations: aquaria
Stigmatopora nigra
Wide-bodied Pipefish
Habitat: sheltered seagrass, algae; 0-35m depth
Distribution: around Tasmania and from WA to Qld, also NZ
Size: length to 160mm
Diet: small invertebrates
Comments: Belonging to the same family of fishes as the seahorse and seadragon, pipefish are slow moving fish found living in large numbers among seagrass beds. Whilst normally very thin in shape, the wide-bodied pipefish is so called due to the swelling of the female’s trunk during breeding season.
For more information see http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4039
MDC locations: aquaria
Trachinops caudimaculatus
Southern Hulafish, blotched-tailed trachinops
Habitat: sheltered and moderately exposed reefs; 1-35m
Distribution: found around Tasmania and from the Investigator Group SA to Wilsons Promontory VIC. Comments: Easily distinguishable from other fish of this genus by the black spot at the base of its tail. This species is found in large numbers on Tasmania reefs and grows to 100mm in length.
For more information see http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Trachinops+caudimaculatus
MDC locations: aquaria