UVNSW Targeted Fish Species Descriptions
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Underwater Volunteers NSW Targeted Fish Species Descriptions Robert J. Edgar and Stephen D. A. Smith Underwater Volunteers of NSW National Marine Science Centre June 2011 Commonwealth of Australia Copyright Regulations 1969 Warning This material has been reproduced and communicated to you on behalf of the National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University pursuant to Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act). The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Front cover Images Female Eastern Blue Groper - Richard Ling Eastern Blue Devilfish – Steve Smith Neon Damsel – Steve Smith Page 1 Fish Identification The following text and images have been developed to aid volunteers recognise the targeted fish species that are the subject of the fish monitoring protocol. Many divers carry digital cameras with them on their forays into the coastal marine waters of NSW. If a positive identification of one of the targeted species cannot be made then, in some instances, an image captured by camera (stills or video) will often enable the volunteer to positively identify the fish in question. Images can also be sent to a fish expert to enable confirmation of its identification. Notes can also be added to the underwater ‘plastic paper’ upon which normal recording is being made. For example, the manner in which the species is swimming may be the key to identifying it. These can be discussed post-dive with your buddy or with other divers who are also conducting surveys in the same general area being surveyed. The golden rule is that, if you are unsure of the identification, DO NOT include the sighting within the data set. When a fish is sighted it can generally be identified using a combination of features. These typically include body and fin shapes, size, head shape and the manner in which the fish moves. Colour is also a key identifying feature. However, for some species, colouration can vary considerably, not only between individuals (e.g. sex) but also depending on the habitat the fish is observed in or the behaviour exhibited by the individual sighted. For many species there can be substantial differences between various stages in the life history of a species. It is important to review the information included in this resource regularly. Underwater volunteer groups are encouraged to revisit this document at monthly meetings. For example, it may be that five species will be reviewed at such meetings. If members have images of any of the targeted species that aid in their identification, then these should be used. Images or video clips may show a behaviour that hasn’t been captured in the images accompanying the description of each species. Don’t just confine your review to what is presented in this training module. The General Marine Resources page on the UVNSW website has URLs to some brilliant resources that include both stills and video clips of many of the species targeted in this project. Please make use of them! General Characteristics of Fish Page 2 (Diagrams reproduced from Kuiter, R. H. 1996 Guide to the Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland Press.) Page 3 Glossary Refer to diagrams Anal fin: the fin on the median line behind the vent Anterior: towards the front or head. Barbel: fleshy tentacle-like extension near the mouth. Basal: pertaining to the base, at the base. Belly: the abdominal region containing the digestive and reproductive organs. Canine: conical tooth towards the front of the mouth; longer than other teeth. Caudal: of or pertaining to the tail. Caudal fin: the tail fin. Caudal peduncle: the region between the end of the anal fin and the base of the caudal fin Ctenoid: scales with spiny edges or surface. Cycloid: scales with smooth edges or surface. Dorsal: pertaining to the back. Dorsal fin: the fin on a fish's back Elongate: extended, drawn out Filament: a slender or thread-like structure. Gills: structure for gas exchange. Interorbital: area between the eyes. Lanceolate: spear-shaped, gradually tapering toward the extremity. Lateral: pertaining to the sides. Laterally compressed: Flattened side to side. Lateral line: sensory canal system running along the body above the mid-line. Lunate: Shaped like a crescent moon. Median: on the midline of the body. Median fins: fins along the median extremes – the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Nape: upper part of the head over and above the eyes. Ocellus: Markings that simulate the presence of an eye. Nasal: pertaining to the nostrils. Opercule: upper bony edge of the gill cover. Operculum: gill cover. Paired fins: the ventral and pectoral fins. Pectoral fins: uppermost of the paired fins, usually on the sides and immediately posterior to the gill openings. Pelvic fins: paired fins behind or below the pectoral fins Posterior: towards the rear or tail. Postorbital: behind the eye. Preopercle: front part of the operculum, an angled bone below and behind the eye. Preopercular spine: spine projecting from the preopercle Proximal: nearest Ray: a jointed rod that supports a fin. Scute: bony scale with keel-like ridge or spine. Segmented Ray: fin ray showing cross striations; soft ray. Soft Dorsal fin: the posterior part of the dorsal fin that is composed of jointed rays Spinous dorsal fin: the anterior part of the dorsal fin supported by spines Spiracle: respiratory opening behind the eye in most sharks and rays. Superior: above or on the upper surface. Terminal: at the end. Truncate: terminating abruptly, as if cut off square. Ventral: of or pertaining to the underside. Ventral fins: the lower-most paired fins along the underside. Page 4 Target Species Order Heterodontiformes Family Heterodontidae Species Name Heterodontus galeatus Common Name Crested Hornshark Description The Crested Hornshark has a blunt head with a prominent ridge above both eyes. The ridge ends abruptly posteriorly to the eye (compare to H. portusjacksoni). The species is grey to brown with large dark blotches. An eye bar runs along the top of the crests and vertically down the sides of the head to the upper jaw line. This species has distinctly white gill slits. A spine is present on the leading edge of both dorsal fins. The caudal fin has distinct ventral and sub-terminal lobes. Grows to 1.5 m. Males mature at about 60 cm, females at 70 cm. It resembles the Port Jackson Shark, which has a harness-like pattern on the sides of the body and lower ridges above the eyes. Australian Distribution Southern Queensland to southern New South Wales. © Jim Dodd Page 5 Order Heterodontiformes Family Heterodontidae Species Name Heterodontus portusjacksoni Common Name Port Jackson Shark Description The Port Jackson Shark has a blunt head with distinctive crests above the eyes. An eye bar runs along the top of the crests and vertically down the sides of the head to the upper jaw line. Conspicuous harness-like markings connect the eye crests, run dorsally to the first dorsal fin, then cross the side of the body where they form a triangle above the pectoral fin. It possesses a spine on the leading edge of the two dorsal fins. Grows to 1.6 m. Australian Distribution Southern Queensland south to Tasmania and west to the central coast of Western Australia. © Jim Dodd © Richard Ling Page 6 Order Lamniformes Family Odontaspididae Species Name Carcharias taurus Common Name Greynurse Shark Description The lateral and dorsal surfaces are usually grey-brown, ventrally dusky white. It has a stout body with an obvious pointed snout and a gaping mouth with rows of pointed teeth. The dorsal fins and anal fin are a similar size. The posterior margin of the first dorsal fin is set closer to the leading edges of the pelvic fins rather than the trailing edges of the pectoral fins. The top lobe of the caudal fin is larger than the lower lobe. Juveniles have reddish or brownish spots on the posterior half of the body and tail. These spots often fade as the shark ages, but are sometimes still visible on adults. Grows to 3.6 m. Males mature at 2.1 m and females at 2.2 m Australian Distribution NSW and southern Queensland. A west coast population is distributed in the southwest coastal waters of Western Australia. © Ian Shaw © Jim Dodd © Richard Ling Page 7 Order Myliobatiformes Family Dasyatidae Species Name Dasyatis kuhlii Common Name Bluespotted Maskray Description The Bluespotted Maskray has a grey to olive disc with sparsely distributed light blue and black spots. The ventral surface is white. It has a dusky band crossing the eyes and interorbital region and has a broadly angular and short snout. The species has a long pale-tipped tail, the posterior third of which is crossed by dark bands. Tail about twice as long as the body with usually one barb. Disc width 45 cm and length of 70 cm. Australian Distribution Central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to Sydney. © Steve Smith Page 8 Order Myliobatiformes Family Myliobatidae Species Name Myliobatis australis Common Name Southern Eagle Ray Description This species is brownish, grey, olive-green or yellowish above and paler below. The upper surface has a variable pattern of grey-blue spots and bars. It possesses a blunt snout and eyes on the sides of the head. The spiracles are conspicuous. The leading edges of the pectoral fins originate below the eyes. The disc is wider than long and has angular tips. There is a small dorsal fin that originates just behind the trailing margin of the pelvic fin followed by a venomous stinging spine on the long whip-like tail. 1.2 m disc width and 2.4 m in total length.