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Western Talma
Chelmonops curiosus Kuiter, 1986
A Western Talma a depth of 7 m, north-western Kangaroo Island, South Australia, December 2003. View larger image. Photo: Erik Schlögl.
The Western Talma is a deep bodied, compressed fish with a long pointed snout and high dorsal and anal fins. It is silvery with five black bars. The ventral fins are black with a leading white edge.
It grows to 26 cm in length.
This species occurs on coastal rocky reefs of South Australia to central Western Australia.
It is also known as the Truncate Coralfish, Coral Fish, Truncate Butterflyfish, Southern Butterflyfish and Squareback Butterflyfish.
The Western Talma resembles the Eastern Talma. The Western Talma can be distinguished by its longer dorsal and anal fins, and deeper body.
Related links
- View the butterflyfish list
- Eastern Talma fact sheet
Further reading
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1986. A new species of butterflyfish, Chelmonops curiosus, from Australia's south coast. Revue Francaise d'Aquariologie. 13(3): 73-78.
- Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
