Eastern Kelpfish, Chironemus marmoratus Günther 1860


Other Names: Hiwihiwi, Kelpfish, Kelp-fish, Large Kelpfish

A Kelpfish, Chironemus marmoratus, in Bitangabee Bay south of Eden, New South Wales. Source: Andrew J. Green / Reef life Survey. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:
A grey, brown, green or pinkish kelpfish covered in small white spots, with large dark blotches on the body. 
Small groups of Eastern Kelpfish often inhabit coastal surge zones.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Chironemus marmoratus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 08 Dec 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2423

Eastern Kelpfish, Chironemus marmoratus Günther 1860

More Info


Distribution

Fraser Island, Queensland, to the Gippsland Lakes, Victoria, the Bass Strait islands and north-eastern Tasmania; also Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere, the species occurs in New Zealand.
Inhabits kelp and macroalgal areas on shallow reefs that are often exposed to strong surge or wave action.

Feeding

Feeds on benthic invertebrates.

Species Citation

Chironemus marmoratus Günther 1860, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 2: 76. Type locality: Swan River and Erub [= Darnley Island, Queensland], western coast of Australia (presumably in error as this locality is outside the known distribution of this species).

Author

Bray, D.J. 2018

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Eastern Kelpfish, Chironemus marmoratus Günther 1860

References


Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Paxton, J.R., Randall, J.E., Russell, B.C., Starck, W.A., Talbot, F.H. & Whitley, G.P. 1976. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Lord Howe Island. Records of the Australian Museum 30(15): 365-454 figs 1-2 

Burridge, C.P. & White, R.W.G.2000. Molecular phylogeny of the antitropical subgenus Goniistius (Perciformes: Cheilodactylidae: Cheilodactylus): evidence for multiple transequatorial divergences and non-monophyly. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 70: 435-458.

Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. 

Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2 

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Oplegnathidae and Chironemidae. pp. 619-622 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. 

Günther, A. 1860. Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the acanthopterygian fishes in the collection of the British Museum. Squamipinnes, Cirrhitidae, Triglidae, Trachinidae, Sciaenidae, Polynemidae, Sphyraenidae, Trichiuridae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Xiphiidae. London : British Museum Vol. 2 548 pp. 

Hector, J. 1875. Notes on New Zealand ichthyology. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 7(34): 239-250, Pls. 10-11. Ref. at BHL

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. 

Johnson, J.W. 1999. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 43(2): 709-762.

Johnson, J.W. 2010. Fishes of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and adjacent continental shelf waters, Queensland, Australia. pp. 299-353 in Davie, P.J.F. & Phillips, J.A. Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 54(3) 

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. 

Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Chironemidae. pp. 638-641, figs 561-563 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. 

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. 

Marshall, T.C. 1964. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coastal Waters of Queensland. Sydney : Angus & Robertson 566 pp. 136 pls. 

Meléndez, R. & Dyer, B.S. 2010. Review of the southern hemisphere fish family Chironemidae (Perciformes: Cirrhitoidei). Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía 45: 683-693 

Neira, F.J., Miskiewicz, A.G. & Trnski, T. 1998. Larvae of temperate Australian fishes: laboratory guide for larval fish identification. Nedlands, Western Australia : University of Western Australia press 474 pp.

Paulin, C., Stewart, A., Roberts, C. & McMillan, P. 1989. New Zealand fish: a complete guide. National Museum of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 19: 1-279

Russell, B.C. 1983. The food and feeding habits of rocky reef fish of north-eastern New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 17(2): 121-145.

Stewart, A.L. 2015. 197 Family Chironemidae, pp. 1340-1343 in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. (eds). The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 4 pp. 1153-1748.

Waite, E.R. 1909. A list of the known fishes of Kermadec and Norfolk Islands, and a comparison with those of Lord Howe Island. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 42: 370-383.

Whitley, G.P. 1931. New names for Australian fishes. The Australian Zoologist 6(4): 310-334 1 fig. pls 25-27 (as Chironemus aboriginalis)

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37375001

Depth:0-20 m

Habitat:Reef associated, surge zone

Max Size:40 cm SL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map