DEFINITIVE AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY FROM REEDS Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Harold G. Flowers and Plants of New South Wales and Cogger. The first comprehensive guide to the Southern Queensland, E. R. Rotherham, D. F. reptiles and amphibians of Australia, numbering Blaxell, Barbara G. Briggs, R. C. Carolin. The 556 some 600 species. An essential reference to the colour illustrations make this one of the most professional and to the general reader who is abundantly illustrated books on the Australian interested in learning more about Australian flora ever produced. The illustrations depict a frogs, turtles, crocodiles, lizards and snakes. representative collection of flowers and plants Many colour and black and white illustrations likely to be seen by the observant traveller or throughout. *$25.00 naturalist in areas of Southern Queensland and the whole of New South Wales and areas adjacent Birds of Australia, J.D. Macdonald. A scientific to these State boundaries. *$18.95 appreciation of Australian ornithology suitable for bird watchers and conservationists and an Flowers and Plants of Western Australia, Rica informative introduction to local avifauna for Erikson, A. S. George, N. G. Marchant, M. K. interested visitors. With 24 pages of full colour Morecombe. This book, with its 538 colour plates. *$23.95 illustrations, comprehensively covers the area from Port Hedland in the north to the South Birds in the Australian High Country, Dr H. J. Coast, and inland to the desert fringes. The plants Frith (editor). Life histories of the birds of the are arranged according to the region in which south-eastern highlands, which include some of they most commonly occur, the 16 regions being the continent's most intriguing wildlife, by grouped into the South-West and North-West fourteen ornithologists and scientists. Complete divisions. The general text describes the habit ats descriptions with many outstanding illus­ and plants of each region. *$18.95 trations in colour. *$16.95 Handbook of Australian Seabirds, D. L. Flowers and Plants of Victoria, G. Ross Serventy, Vincent Serventy, John Warham. The Cochrane, J. H. Willis, B. A. Fuhrer, E. R. first book of its kind to deal in detail with the life Rotherham. Almost one-fifth of the native plants histories and distribution of every sea-bird on occurring in the State are illustrated in full colour the continent. The many photographs, some in and each illustration is accompanied by a colour, and sketches readily enable each species descriptive caption. The captions give the to be identified. *$12.95 common and scientific names, the flowering times and the characteristics and the general text Australian Shells, B. R. Wilson, Keith Gillett. describes the plants and their environment in Many priceless and extremely rare species as different regions. *$18.9 5 well as the common shells known to shoreline fossickers, have been described and illustrated for the first time in a work readily available to the Field Guide to the Flowers and Plants of Victoria, general public. Full colour throughout. *$23.95 J. H . Willis, B. A. Fuhrer and E. R. Rotherham. An invaluable reference for casual journeys as w ell Flora of the Sydney Region, N. C. W. Beadle, 0 . D. as botanical expeditions, which will be made Evans, R. C. Carolin. A basic text for botanists, more enjoyable and rewarding by its use. Each of hbrticulturalists, landscape gardeners, and the the 428 full colour illustrations is accompanied home gardener. Some 200 indigenous and 450 by a descriptive caption giving the common and exotic species are described and many scientific names and the characteristics of t he photographs and line drawings supplement the plants. Species ar e grouped in sections for easy text, which is authoritative and definitive. reference according to their most common *$16.95 habitats. *$9.95 All titles listed are available from the AUSTRALIAN MU SEUM BOOKSHOP Published by A. H. & A. W. REED PTY LTD 53 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills NSW 2084 • Recommended retail prices only AUSTRAliAN NATURAl HISTORY DECEMBE R 1975 V OLUM E 18 N UMBER 8 PUBL1SH ED OUARTERL Y BY THE AUSTRAL1 A N MUSEUM , 6-8 COLLEGE STREET. SYDNEY PR ESI DENT. M ICHAEL PITMA N ACTI NG 0 1REC TOR . DESMOND GRI FFIN ANEMONEFISHES AND THEIR AMAZING PARTNERSHIP 274 BY GERALD R. ALLEN SLIT DRUMS AND THE HUNGGWE OF EASTERN AOBA 280 BY FRANCIS CAMERON A SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TIME MACHINE 284 BY JEREMY GREEN AND COLIN PEARSON PART 1: EXCAVATING THE WRECK OF THE BATAVIA PART 2: CONSERVING THE WRECK AND THE RELICS THE WARRUMBUNGLE MOUNTAINS 296 A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE COVER: A diver from BY A.M. FOX the Western Austral ian Museum's Department of Maritime Archaeology THE WORLD OF THE ROCK LOBSTER 302 attaches a rope to bags BY BRUCE PHILLIPS containing relics from the Dutch East lndiaman Batavia, wrecked off the IN REVIEW 308 coast of Western Australia REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF AUSTRALIA in 1629. (Photo: Jeremy REVIEWED BY PETER RAWLINSON Green) EDITOR/ DESIGNER NANCY SMITH A SSISTANT EDITOR Annual Subscription: $4.50-Australia: $5-New Zealand and New ROBERT STEWART Guinea: $6- other countries. Single copies: $1 ($1 .40 posted PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Australia): $1.45- New Zealand and New Guinea; $1.70- other LEAH RYAN countries. Cheque or money order payable to The Australian CIRCULATION Museum should be sent to The Secretary. The Australian Museum. ROY HELM PO Box A285. Sydney South 2001. Overseas subscribers please note that rates are to be paid in Australian currency . EDITORIAL COMMITTEE HA ROLD COGGER Opinions expressed by the authors are their own and d o no t KINGSLEY GREGG necessarily represent the policies or views of The Australian PATRICIA McDONALD Museum. RONALD STRAHAN •RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE IN TEANA TI,ONAL 5TANQAA 0 SERIAl NUMBER 000" · 9840 273 GR. ALLEN The Wide-ba nd_ed The British. naturalist, Collingwood, was the first There are at least a dozen anemone species which Anemonef1sh person to record the unusual relationship between (Amphiprion . serve as hosts. They vary in size from the diminutive tatezonatus) bright-coloured f1shes and g1ant sea anemones. That Douglas Anemone (Physobrachia d.ouglasi), which has . h~s an extremely was back in 1881. Since that time both laymen and l1m1ted geographic ' an oral disc diameter of only a few centimetres, to the range which scientists have marveled at this unique partnership. gargantuan Giant Anemone, sometimes me~suring includes Lord Howe Most fishes avoid the anemone's tentacles, and for Island and northern more than one metre across. The anemones are some­ NSW. good reason. Equipped with specialised cells called times encountered without fishes, but the latter are nematocysts, they are capable of paralysing careless never found without their invertebrate host. The intruders. Anemonefishes, however, actually nestle occasional reports of fishes without an anemone are among the deadly tentacles and rely on them for no doubt the result of the cryptic habits of several of protection from their enemies. the host species. They may attach in cracks and crevices These fishes belong to a large family of tropical reef or among dense coral growth, where they easily escape species, Pomacentridae. The twenty-six species which notice. Such is the case with the Douglas Anemone comprise the anemonefish genus, Amphiprion, are which is the haven for the Black Anemonefish confined to the Indo-Pacific region. Eleven species (A. melanopus). inhabit Australian coral reefs. Some, such as the Pink Typically, the fishes feed on minute planktonic Anemonefish (A. perideraion), are relatively drab; animals a short distance above their lair. Copepods,· a others exhibit striking colour patterns, for example, type of minute crustacean, are a preferred food item of the two species of Clown Anemonefish (A. ocel/aris, many of the species. Periodically the fishes retreat to and A. percu/a}. Several species are able to alter their their anemone w here they 'scamper' over the oral disc colour according to the type of anemone with which and literally 'bathe' among the tentacles. If threatened they are associated. The Orange-finned Anemonefish by a diver or large predatory fish, they make a head­ (A. chrysopterus), a rare inhabitant of northern long dash for the sanctuary offered by their host, Queensland, is predominantly orange and black with completely burying themselves among the tentacles .. white bars when it lives with the Giant Anemone only to reappear headfirst, seconds later, as if checking (Stoichactis giganteum), but when residing with the to see if the coast is clear. White Anemone (Radianthus malu), it is frequently The Pink Anemonefish is usually associated with brownish with white bars. Similarly, Clark's Anemone­ Ritter's Anemone (Radianthus ritteri). Generally fish (A. c/arkii) is primarily black when found with the there is an adult pair and three or four smaller fish Giant Anemone and largely orange when associated with each host. A 'pecking order' exists in which the with several other host species. The fishes can actually smaller individuals are constantly harassed by the be induced to change colour.s if experimentally switch­ larger ones. Investigations conducted at Eniwetok Atoll ed from one anemone to another. The change generally in the central Pacific revealed that the dominant adults requires one or two weeks. actually exert an inhibiting effect on the growth of the GERALD R. ALLEN, Curator of Fishes at the Western Australian Museum, is particularly interested in the biology and behaviour of tropical reef fishes. 274 AUSTRALIAN NATU RAL HISTO RY ANEMONEFISH AND THEIR AMAZING PARTNERSHIP BY GERALD R. ALLEN smaller fish. Very little growth was recorded for the becomes visible. A short time later, she enters the nest smaller fish at several anemones during a six-month area and begins depositing eggs, followed by the male period.