diemensis (Lesueur, 1824)
Inhabits reef crevices; distinguished by gill slit extending only half to two-thirds of pectoral fin base and lacks small dark-edged white spots on side; found throughout the region; Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 26 cm. (BATRACHOIDIDAE)
5 OCELLATED FROGFISH
Halophyrne ocellatus Hutchins, 1974
Inhabits offshore trawling grounds, may enter craypots; distinguished by restricted gill slit as in 4 above, but has small dark-edged white spots on side; Fremantle to Broome, W.Australia; to 26 cm. (BATRACHOIDIDAE)
6 URCHIN CLINGFISH
Diademichthys lineatus (Sauvage, 1883)
Inhabits coral reefs amongst spines of sea urchins or in branching corals; distinguished by peculiar shape with pale stripe on middle of side; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 5 cm. (GOBIESOCIDAE)
7 SHARK BAY CLINGFISH
Lepadichthys frenatus Waite, 1904 Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by red to brown colour, dark stripe behind eye, and peculiar shape; N. Australia; W. Pacific; to 5 cm. (GOBIESOCIDAE)
8 HUMPBACK ANGLERFISH
Tetrabrachium ocellatum (Gunther, 1880)
Inhabits offshore trawling grounds; distinguished by amorphous appearance, low dorsal and anal fins, small eyes and mouth, and numerous white spots; N. Australia and New Guinea; to 8.5 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
9 STRIPED ANGLERFISH
Antennarius striatus (Shaw, 1794)
Inhabits inshore reefs, often in weeds; distinguished by narrow dark streaks and elongate blotches on body and fins; also entirely black variety; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 22 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
10 WHITE-FINGER ANGLERFISH
Antennarius nummifer (Cuvier, 1817)
Inhabits inshore reefs; similar to 11 below, but has distinct tail base and usually a dark spot at base of dorsal fin; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 13 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
11 FRECKLED ANGLERFISH
Antennarius coccineus (Lesson, 1830)
Inhabits offshore coral reefs; similar to 10 above, but lacks distinct tail base and black spot on dorsal fin base; found throughout the region; Indo-E. Pacific; to 13 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
12 SHAGGY ANGLERFISH
Antennarius hispidus (Schneider, 1801)
Inhabits coastal reefs; distinguished by scattered dark blotches on side and fins, and diagonal, elongate streaks and blotches on dorsal fin; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 20 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
13 PAINTED ANGLERFISH
Antennarius pictus (Shaw & Nodder, 1794)
Inhabits coastal reefs; distinguished by scattered dark spots (some pale-edged) and with light patches on nape, cheek, and pectoral regions; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 24 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
14 SPOTTED-TAIL ANGLERFISH
Lophiocharon trisignatus (Richardson, 1844)
Inhabits coastal reefs, also found under wharves; distinguished by dark-edged pale spots on tail; Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 18 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
15 SARGASSUM FISH
Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758)
Usually found in clumps of floating sargassum weed; distinguished by smooth skin (most other anglerfishes have prickles), often with skin flaps and filaments on head and body; found throughout the region; worldwide temperate and tropical seas; to 16 cm. (ANTENNARIIDAE)
16 RED CUSKEEL
Ogilbia sp.
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by yellow to orange colour; elongate, tapering shape, blunt snout and tail separated from dorsal and anal fins; found throughout the region;W. Pacific; to 9 cm. (BYTHITIDAE)
17 PEARLFISH
Onuxodon margaritiferae (Rendahl, 1921)
Inhabits coastal waters, lives in the mantle cavity of oysters; other similar species found inside sea cucumbers and cushion starfish; distinguished by long slender, transparent body; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 9 cm. (CARAPIDAE)
18 BLACK-EDGED CUSKEEL
Ophidion muraenolepis (Gunther, 1880)
Inhabits continental shelf and slope; distinguished by long tapering body, low, dark edged dorsal and anal fins, no barbels, but thread-like pelvic fins just behind chin; N.W. Australia and S. Indonesia; mainly eastern Indian Ocean; to 20 cm. (OPHIDIIDAE)
19 BEARDED CUSKEEL
Brotula multibarbata Temminck & Schlegel, 1847 Inhabits coastal reefs; distinguished by elongate body, barbels around mouth, and thread-like pelvic fins; found throughout the region; Indo-C. Pacific; to 90 cm. (OPHIDIIDAE)
★★
20 GOLDEN CUSKEEL
Sirembo imberis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1847)
Inhabits trawling grounds; similar to 18 above, but with broken stripes and spots on side; found throughout the region; N. Indian Ocean and W. edge of Pacific; to 20 cm. (OPHIDIIDAE)
PLATE 13: FLYING FLSHES, GARFISHES, LONGTOMS AND HARDYHEADS
1 FLYINGFISH
Cypselurus sp.
Inhabits oceanic waters, frequently well offshore; several species of flyingfishes are common in the region, but only one is shown here as they are seldom caught by anglers and identification at the species level is frequently difficult; flyingfishes are distinguished by the wing-like pectoral fins and elongated lower tail lobe which facilitate long gliding flights over the sea surface; found throughout the region; to 27 cm. (EXOCOETIDAE)
★★
2 SNUB-NOSED GARFISH
Arrhamphus sclerolepis Gunther, 1866
Inhabits coastal waters, sometimes entering brackish estuaries and the lower reaches of freshwater streams; distinguished by its short snout and lack of elongated lower jaw (as in other garfishes); N. Australia and New Guinea; to 38 cm. (HEMIRAMPHIDAE)
★★★
3 BUFFON'S GARFISH
Zenarchopterus buffonis (Valenciennes, 1847)
Inhabits coastal waters, sometimes entering estuaries;
