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Kelpfish
Chironemus marmoratus Günther, 1860

A Kelpfish at a depth of 14 m, Fly Point Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, New South Wales. Photo © D. & L. Atkinson. View larger image.

Two Kelpfish at a depth of 5 m, Bass Point, Shellharbour, New South Wales, October 2000. Photo © E. Schlögl. View larger image.

A juvenile Kelpfish at a depth of 2 m, just outside Clovelly Pool, Sydney. August 1980. Photo © R. Kuiter. View larger image.

The Kelpfish has a pointed snout and a small mouth. It has large pectoral fins with branched rays above and thickened unbranched rays below.

The species is grey, brown, green or pinkish with large dark blotches on the body. There are numerous small white spots on the body and fins.

It grows to 40 cm in length.

The Kelpfish lives in shallow marine waters between the intertidal zone and about 20 m. It is usually found in areas of high wave action or currents.

This species occurs in south-eastern Australia from southern Queensland to northern Tasmania and eastern Victoria. It is also known from New Zealand.

View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.