Thaumatichthys sp.

Other Names: a wolftrap angler

Summary:

A video taken by an ROV in the Coral Sea Marine Park is the first sighting of a wolftrap angler (family Thaumatichthyidae) in Australian waters. The female, which appears to have a broad white margin on the median and pectoral fins, was observed swimming head down near the bottom at a depth of 1500 metres.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2025, Thaumatichthys sp. in Fishes of Australia, accessed 27 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5773

Thaumatichthys sp.

More Info

Distribution	Cairns Seamount, Coral Sea Marine Park, Australia.
Features
Remarks	The individual in the Coral Sea was filmed swimming head-down in the water column approximately 1 m off the bottom. Unusual among ceratioid anglerfshes, the median and pectoral fins of this individual appear to be broadly edged in white. The swimming behaviour and coloration pattern is similar to another metamorphosed female Thaumatichthys (identifed as T. axeli) in an unpublished video filmed at 2000 m near the Atlantis oil felds in the Gulf of Mexico (Tea et al. 2025).
Author	Bray, D.J. 2025

Thaumatichthys sp.

References

Tea, Y.K., Sih, T.L., Walsh, F., Bennett, T., et al. 2025. New records of fishes from the Coral Sea Marine Park, Australia. Coral Reefs https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-025-02664-3