Author: admin

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by George Coates

There are over 30 species of parrotfish on the Great Barrier Reef, and all share a few common traits. The most obvious of all relates to their teeth. Parrotfish evolved from the carnivorous wrasse family, but through the course of time, their teeth have moved forward on the jawbone and reduced in size. Eventually, the teeth fused together, creating a very useful tool for scratching algae off the surface of the coral.

When parrotfish sleep at night, they often secrete a mucus sleeping bag around themselves to protect themselves from predators. The bags also have antibiotic properties that are beneficial for the fish.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 5966

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

A common and widespread grouper in the Indo-Pacific, it is identified by the bright yellow margin on the lunate tail. The species is reddish above, often shading to orangish to white on the belly. There are numerous small bluish or pinkish spots on the head, body and fins.

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific from close to the surface to over 100 m in depth. In Australia it is known from central and north-western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef to the central coast of New South Wales.

George Coates of Townsville was commissioned as an artist by the Department of Harbours and Marine to provide a wide range of illustrations of Queensland fishes during the 1950s to early 1980s.

Mr Tom C Marshall was the Government Ichthyologist at that time and had an active involvement in government publications regarding the idetification

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by Frank Olsen

The Coral Cod can be recognised by its pattern of bright blue spots on an orange-red background. These spots are smaller than the size of the pupil, and cover the head, body and median fins. Juvenile Coral Cod are orange to yellow.

This species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central Western Australian coast, around the tropical north, and down the east coast to northern New South Wales. It is usually seen in caves and under ledges.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6100

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by George Coates.

Enter any seafood restaurant during your stay in Cairns and you are likely to find Coral Trout on the menu. Coral trouts are among the most sought-after reef fishes for their impressive appearance and fine eating qualities.

Their delicate flavour and fine, white flakes appeal to most. Bake, steam, poach or grill, but avoid handling them too much as their delicate flakes can be easily damaged.

Enrich with an abundance of citrus, light butter sauces, parsley and chives. The cheek flesh from coral trouts is very highly regarded and should not be wasted.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6082

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by George Coates.

This large brightly-coloured wrasse is common amongst kelp on rocky reefs on New South Wales, and is often seen by divers in the Sydney region. A carnivore, this species has an unusual upper jaw with two large teeth anterioroly and a single tooth curving forward at the rear of the jaw.

Females are red, green or grey with rows of white spots. Males have white cheeks, a red band across the body, red dorsal and anal fins and a white caudal peduncle and tail.

The species name gymnogenis comes from the Greek gymnon meaning bare and genys meaning cheek. This refers to the nearly naked cheeks that have a single row of scales.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6079

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by George Coates.

The Chinaman fish, Symphorus nematophorus, is a species of snapper native to the western Pacific Ocean. It inhabits coastal reefs to a depth of about 50 m, and is recorded in Australian from Shark Bay in WA to Moreton Bay in Queensland.

Chinaman fish are a good looking fish but are a known ciguatoxin carrier and therefore cannot be eaten. Ciguatera is a foodborne illness that is caused by eating certain reef fish whose flesh is contaminated with a toxin made by dinoflagellates which live in tropical waters.

Captain Cook reported the first known case of ciguatera poisoning in the Pacific in 1774 while in the New Hebrides. He suffered ciguatera poisoning twice, and red bass was thought to be the culprit on both occasions.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6072

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Coral trout is native to the western Pacific Ocean and its natural habitat includes open seas and coral reefs. Studies suggest that coral trout move around considerably within a single reef, though often no further than 500 meter (1,600 ft) from it.

Movement between neighbouring reefs does not occur to a large extent; however, there have been cases where fish have moved from one reef to another. Much of this movement may be the result of fish moving towards or away from spawning sites.

Initially described by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1802, the Coral trout belongs to a family of fish known as the Serranidae. This family included groupers and coral cod (not related to true cod), which are all characterised by having three spines on the gill cover and a large mouth lined with more than one row of sharp teeth.

George

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by George Coates.

The Red Emperor is not a true Emperor but a species of snapper native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is an inhabitant of both rocky and coral reefs, preferring flat areas with either a sandy or gravel substrate.

They can be found at depths from 5 to 180 m and can reach a length of 116 cm, though most do not exceed 60 cm. Juveniles often shelter amongst sea urchin spines until large enough to venture out to feed.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 5973

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by Frank Olsen

Found throughout the world, including various parts of the western Pacific, the Coral Trout can often be seen in and around the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, where they’re snacking on prawns, crustaceans and fish.

Here they display two distinct methods of hunting – ambush and prowling – which they do during daylight hours (most often at dusk and dawn). Interestingly, they also change their skin colour when feeding.

With the ambush technique, this prawn lover will hide, remaining quiet and still before attacking passing prey. With the prowling technique, the fish will creep toward their target before suddenly attacking at great speed.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6212

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The blue-spotted Rock Cod is brown to orange-brown with numerous small blue spots on the head, body and fins. Each spot has a black margin and is surrounded by a white “halo”

Rockcods and groupers are found worldwide in tropical and temperate marine water. Many are large fishes that live in association with coral reefs, but species are also found on rocky reefs in cooler regions. Worldwide, there are about 160 species. In Australia, about 70 species are known.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6211

See Full Post >>