Elegant Sand Diver, Trichonotus elegans

Scientific name: Trichonotus elegans
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    11/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
I.20781-001 - Trichonotus elegans Click to enlarge image
Elegant Sand Diver, Trichonotus elegans Image: Doug Hoese
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Trichonotus
    Species
    elegans
    Family
    Trichonotidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia

Introduction

As its common name suggests the Elegant Sand Diver can literally dive head first into sandy seabeds.

Identification

The species has a very enlongate body and a black spot at the base of the leading dorsal fin rays. These rays are extremely elongate in males.

Distribution

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Further reading

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.