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Eastern Talma
Chelmonops truncatus (Osbeck, 1765)
An Eastern Talma at Cabbage Tree Island, Port Stephens, New South Wales, April 1998. Photo © E. Schlögl. View larger image.
An Eastern Talma at Shiprock, Port Hacking, New South Wales. Photo © Á. Lumnitzer. View larger image.
An Eastern Talma at Bowen Island, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, April 1999. Photo © E. Schlögl. View larger image.
The Eastern Talma can be recognised by its colouration and shape. It has a tubular snout, steep nape, and tall, pointed dorsal and anal fins that have vertical posterior margins.
It is brown or silver with five dark bands. The first passes through the eye, the next three are progressively broader, and the fifth crosses the caudal peduncle. Juveniles look similar to the adults, but have an ocellus on the dorsal fin.
The species grows to 22 cm in length.
The Eastern Talma is found in coastal bays, estuaries and deeper reefs, in depths of 5 m to 70 m. It is endemic to Australia, occurring from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
It is also known as the Truncate Coralfish.
The similar Western Talma has higher dorsal and anal fins and a deeper body than the Eastern Talma.
Related links
- Western Talma fact sheet
- View the butterflyfish list
- View the Family Chaetodontidae list
- View a low resolution movie clip (59k) or the movies page for higher resolution versions.
Further reading
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life; the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- 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. (for Squareback Butterflyfish)
- 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.
