ANIMAL SPECIES:Beaked Coralfish, Chelmon rostratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Beaked Coralfish has a very long snout and tall dorsal and anal fins. It has three orange bars and an ocellus on the dorsal fin rays. It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
Identification
The Beaked Coralfish has a very long snout and tall dorsal and anal fins. It has three orange bars and an ocellus on the dorsal fin rays.
There is a dark-margined orange bar through the eye and a blue-edged bar across the caudal peduncle.
The long snout of adults is not present in larvae or juveniles. It develops after the larval fish settles on the reef.
Size range
The species grows to 20 cm in length.Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef to the central coast of New South Wales.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Beaked Coralfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Classification
- Species:
- rostratus
- Genus:
- Chelmon
- Family:
- Chaetodontidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
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A Beaked Coralfish at the Great Barrier Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Lateral view of a Beaked Coralfish View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
A Beaked Coralfish at Palau Redang View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
A Beaked Coralfish caught off Lizard Island View full size
Amanda Hay
© Australian Museum
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