Western Talma, Chelmonops curiosus Click to enlarge image
A Western Talma at a depth of 7m, Rapid Bay Jetty, South Australia, 19 January 2008. Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chelmonops
    Species
    curiosus
    Family
    Chaetodontidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 26 cm in length.

Introduction

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 species occurs from South Australia to the central coast of Western Australia.

Identification

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.


Juvenile Western Talma

A juvenile Western Talma at a depth of 4m, Port Hughes Jetty, South Australia, 7 May 2011.

Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio

Habitat

It is usually found on coastal rocky reefs.

Distribution

The species occurs from South Australia to the central coast of Western Australia.

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

References

  1. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1986. A new species of butterflyfish, Chelmonops curiosus, from Australia's south coast. Revue Francaise d'Aquariologie. 13(3): 73-78.
  3. 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.