first dorsal fin) fitting about 10 to 13 times in total length; N. Australia and New Guinea only; to 33 cm.
4 LONG-TAILED CATFISH
Euristhmus lepturus (Günther, 1864)
Inhabits coastal waters; similar to 3 above, but not as slender with greatest depth of body (i.e. height of body below first dorsal fin) fitting about 8 or 9 times in total length; N. Australia and S. New Guinea only; to 46 cm. (PLOTOSIDAE)
5 STRIPED CATFISH
Plotosus lineatus (Thünberg, 1791)
Inhabits coastal waters, frequently in the vicinity of coral reefs; juveniles may form tightly packed aggregations containing up to several hundred fish; found throughout the region; Indo-C. Pacific; to 32 cm. (PLOTOSIDAE)
6 WHITE-LIPPED CATFISH
Paraplotosus albilabris (Valenciennes, 1840)
Inhabits coastal reefs, frequently found amongst weed-distinguished from 7 below, by lighter colour and much shorter dorsal fin; found throughout the region; mainly Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 134 cm. (PLOTOSIDAE)
★★★
7 SAILFIN CATFISH
Paraplotosus butleri Allen, 1998
Inhabits coastal reefs, usually in the vicinity of coral reefs; distinguished by black colour and tall dorsal fin; N.W. Australia south to Point Quobba; to 30 cm. (PLOTOSIDAE)
8 INDIAN LIZARDFISH
Synodus indicus (Day, 1873)
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by overall light colour with faint stripes on back and 2 dark streaks on upper comer of gill cover; N.W. Australia and throughout S.E. Asia; Indian Ocean and Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 21 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
9 TAILSPOT LIZARDFISH
Synodus jaculum Russell & Cressey, 1979
Inhabits the vicinity of coral reefs- distinguished by black spot at base of tail; Ningaloo Reef northwards; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 13 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
10 BLACK LIZARDFISH
Synodus kaianus (Gunther, 1880)
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by overall dark colouration; N.W. Australia and Indonesia; mainly W. Pacific: to 22 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
11 BIG-EYED LIZARDFISH
Synodus macrops Tanaka, 1917
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by large size of eye and 3 large dark blotches on side; N.W. Australia and Indonesia; Andaman Sea and W. Pacific; to 20 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
12 BLACK-SHOULDERED LIZARDFISH
Synodus hoshinonis Tanaka, 1917
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by prominent black area on upper edge of gill cover; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 22 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
13 NETTED LIZARDFISH
Synodus sageneus Waite, 1905
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished from other lizardfishes by the absence or reduced size of the adipose fin (small fin on back between dorsal fin and tail)- also known as Fishnet lizardfish; N. Australia and S. New Guinea; to 26 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
14 VARIEGATED LIZARDFISH
Synodus variegatus (Lacepede, 1803)
Inhabits sand rubble areas in the vicinity of coral reefs; distinguished by mottled appearance with series of dark bars on side; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 25 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
15 PAINTED GRINNER
Trachinocephalus myops (Schneider, 1801)
Inhabits coastal waters and trawling grounds; distinguished by pug-headed appearance, yellowish colour and bluish stripes on side; found throughout the region; Indo-C. Pacific; to 66 cm. (SYNODONTIDAE)
★★
16 SLENDER GRINNER
Saurida gracilis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Inhabits sandy areas, frequently near coral reefs; similar to 13 above, but teeth not covered by lips when mouth is closed; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 28 cm. (HARPODONTIDAE)
★★
17 LARGE-SCALED GRINNER
Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848)
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by small black spots along upper edge of tail, also known as Checkered lizardfish; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 45 cm. (HARPODONTIDAE)
★★
18 COMMON GRINNER
Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795)
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by lack of markings and dark lower lobe of tail; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 43 cm. (HARPODONTIDAE)
★★
19 GLASSY BOMBAY DUCK
Harpodon translucens Saville-Kent, 1889 Inhabits bays and estuaries- distinguished by large curved teeth and flaccid semi-transparent appearance; N. Australia and S. New Guinea only; to 70 cm. (HARPODONTIDAE)
★
PLATE 12: FROGFISHES, ANGLERFISHES, CLINGFISHES AND CUSKEELS
1 DAHL’S FROGFISH
Batrachomoeus dahli (Rendahl, 1922)
Inhabits shallow reefs; distinguished by gill slit extending along entire pectoral fin base and marbled pattern without distinctive cross bars; N.W. Australia only; to 20 cm. (BATRACHOIDIDAE)
2 WESTERN FROGFISH
Batrachomoeus occidentalis Hutchins, 1976
Inhabits offshore trawling grounds; distinguished by gill slit extending along entire pectoral base and distinct cross bars on side; Rottnest Island to Exmouth Gulf, W. Australia; to 20 cm. (BATRACHOIDIDAE)
3 THREE-SPINED FROGFISH
Batrachomoeus trispinosus (Gunther, 1861)
Inhabits coastal reefs; similar to 1 above, but has relatively distinct cross bars on side and well contrasted markings on dorsal surface of head; found throughout the region; N. Australia and New Guinea; to 30 cm. (BATRACHOIDIDAE)
4 BANDED FROGFISH
