Footballer Sweep, Neatypus obliquus Waite 1905
Other Names: Western Footballer
Footballer Sweeps, Neatypus obliquus, on Horseshoe Reef, Jurien Bay, Western Australia. Source: Graham Edgar / Reef Life Survey. License: CC BY Attribution
Summary:
A silvery-white sweep with six oblique brown edged yellowish bands along the head and body, and yellow fins
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Neatypus obliquus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 02 Jul 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2445
Footballer Sweep, Neatypus obliquus Waite 1905
More Info
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Distribution |
Waldegrave Island, South Australia (and possibly east to Kangaroo Island), to Kalbarri, Western Australia. Prefers deeper offshore reefs, commonly forming large schools in southern Western Australia. Individuals are very inquisitive and may approach divers. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin X, 20-21; Anal fin 18; Pectoral fin 15; Pelvic fin i< 5; Caudal fin 17; Lateral-line scales 46-47. Body ovate, moderately deep (46-50% SL), compressed; caudal peduncle shallow. Head moderately small (28-30% SL); eyes large (approx. 34% HL); mouth small, oblique; jaws with small, imbricating, tricuspid teeth, three separate narrow bands in lower and several bands in upper, outer row enlarged in each; preopercles with strong spines along posterior edge; lower edge of preopercles and margins of opercles and preorbital bones smooth. Scales large, cycloid, covering all of body and head, except for preorbital bones and small area around nostrils; lateral line gently curved, distinct. Dorsal fin continuous, outer margin evenly curved, spinous base shorter than soft base, spines moderately long, of similar length, rays becoming progressively shorter posteriorly; anal fin with prominent spines, second very large and longer than third, soft rayed section deep anteriorly, rays becoming progressively much shorter posteriorly, outer margin approaching vertical; caudal fin broadly forked. Pectoral fins small, pointed, upper rays longest. Pelvic fins small, inserted below and behind pectoral fin base. |
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Feeding |
The peculiar teeth (see Features) of this species are adapted for feeding on weed. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin obliquus (= oblique), in reference to the "six oblique dark brown bands, each of which is bordered with black". |
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Species Citation |
Neatypus obliquus Waite 1905, Records of the Australian Museum 6(2): 65, pl. 10. Type locality: Houtmans Abrolhos, Western Australia. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Footballer Sweep, Neatypus obliquus Waite 1905
References
Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp.
Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Monodactylidae, Arripidae, Kyphosidae, Girellidae, Microcanthidae, Scorpididae. pp. 596-607 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.
Hoschke, A., Whisson, G.& Moore, G.I. 2019. Complete list of fishes from Rottnest Island. pp. 150-161 in Whisson, G. & Hoschke, A. (eds). The Rottnest Island fish book. 2nd ed. Perth, Western Australia : Aqua Research and Monitoring Services.
Hutchins, J.B. 1994. A survey of the nearshore reef fish fauna of Western Australia's west and south coasts — The Leeuwin Province. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 46: 1-66 figs 1-6
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270
Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.
Hutchins, J.B. & Thompson, M. 1983. The Marine and Estuarine Fishes of South-western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 103 pp. 345 figs.
Knudsen, S.W. & Clements, K.D. 2013, Revision of the family Kyphosida. (Teleostei: Perciformes). Zootaxa 3751(1): 1-101. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3751.1.1
Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Scorpididae. pp. 618-624, figs 544-624 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Butterflyfishes, Bannerfishes and their Relatives. Chorleywood, U.K. : TMC Publishing 208 pp.
Waite, E.R. 1905. Notes on fishes from Western Australia. No. 3. Records of the Australian Museum 6(2): 55-82 fig. 23 pls 8-17 See ref at BHL
Williams, J.T. 2024. Neatypus obliquus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T241132895A241132897. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T241132895A241132897.en. Accessed on 12 May 2025.
