Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by Frank Olsen.

Also known as Goldspot Hogfish or Orange Threadfin Tuskfish, this species can be recognised by its colouration. It is orangy-red with orange spots on the head and the front half of the body. Much of the dorsal fin is black. There is a yellow spot or bar (hence the standard name) on the back followed by a large black mark on the base of the soft dorsal fin and upper body.

It has an antitropical distribution in the Indo-West to Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from southern Queensland to Sydney, New South Wales and from Lord Howe Island.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6174

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by Frank Olsen.

Tusk fish are members of the Wrasse family. They are named for their tusk-like canine teeth in the front of their jaws.

The Venus Tusk Fish is the largest of the group. It is extremely variable in colour, the basic tone ranging from green through pale blue to pink and brick red. The most permanent colour seems to be the large bright blue spots well distributed over the head and body.

It is a very good table fish, the flesh being firm, white, flaky and of very good flavour.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6173

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by Frank Olsen.

The red dragonet is a species of dragonet native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs at depths of from 70 to 600 metres. This diminutive, bright scarlet and yellow fish is found amongst areas of broken coral rubble that is interspresed with outcrops of soft and stony corals.

Like its close relative, the Scooter Blenny, this species has an interesting method of locomotion, using oversized ventral fins to ‘scoot’ along the substrate and habitually perch as it feeds on microfauna.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6110

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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

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Artwork by Frank Olsen.

Also known as Pinkbanded Grubfish or Red-barred Sandpearch, this species has an elongate body with a long-based second dorsal fin. It has a pointed snout and eyes positioned high on the head. It is usually pale pink with brown to red blotches and bands. Adults have light blue lines between the eyes and crossing the snout.

The species in endemic to Australia. It is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and down the east coast to at least Sydney, New South Wales. Sandpearches are found singly or in small groups close to hiding places on open sand and rubble areas of shallow bays and feed on small crustaceans.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 6246

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