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Crested Weedfish
Cristiceps australis Valenciennes, 1836
A Crested Weedfish at a depth of 12 m, Kurnell, New South Wales. Photo © Á. Lumnitzer. View larger image.
Head of a Crested Weedfish caught (and released) at a depth of less than 1m, in a sea grass bed, Bonna Point, Kurnell, Sydney, New South Wales, November 2005. Note that the dorsal fin originates over the eye and behind the supraorbital tentacles. Photo © D. Miles (AUSECO). View larger image.
Caudal region of the fish in the above image. The arrow points to the dorsal fin membrane, which terminates in the middle of the long caudal peduncle. Photo © D. Miles (AUSECO). View larger image.
The Crested Weedfish has a long, slender body with a large caudal fin and narrow caudal peduncle.
The dorsal fin is divided into two distinct parts. The high first part, which has three spines, originates above the eye and behind the supraorbital tentacles. The long-based second part has 26 to 29 spines followed by 6 to 8 rays.
The Crested Weedfish grows to 18 cm in length.
The colouration of this species is highly variable, with fish often matching their habitats. Crested Weedfish commonly have a band extending down and back from the eye, a white blotch behind the pectoral fin base, and diffuse banding on the body.
The Crested Weedfish occurs primarily in temperate marine waters. It is known from southern Queensland, around the south of the country, including Tasmania, and north to the central coast of Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Golden Weedfish fact sheet
- View the Weedfishes list
Further reading
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- Hoese, D.F, Rennis, D.S. & M.F. Gomon. 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.
- 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.
