This was a very hot day, but great in the water! Lots of Weedy Seadragons, many of the males were carrying eggs. There were also also lots of Ornate Cowfish. A tiny juvenile Scalyfin was hiding under the engine block, and a Common Threefin was also spotted there. On the way back in we also saw a juvenile Mado - the first I've seen there.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Seadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Seadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Seadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Sadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Sadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Male Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Male Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Male Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Male Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Juvenile Scalyfin. The Victorian Scalyfin is one of the larger members of the Damselfish family. It is territorial, and will aggressively defend its cave and the patch of algae that it farms. They can vary in colour from grey to black, or yellow to orange. Large males can be almost black, with a thin blue margin.
Juvenile Scalyfin. The Victorian Scalyfin is one of the larger members of the Damselfish family. It is territorial, and will aggressively defend its cave and the patch of algae that it farms. They can vary in colour from grey to black, or yellow to orange. Large males can be almost black, with a thin blue margin.
The Common Threefin is one member of a large family of generally quite small fish. This species only grows to around 8 cm. Commonly found in caves and under ledges on reefs, it is also seen around pylons of piers.
There are about 20 species of Bullseyes. They have small dorsal fins, and their large eyes are ideally suited for locating their planktonic prey at night. They are generally found in shallow water under ledges and near the mouth of caves.
There are about 20 species of Bullseyes. They have small dorsal fins, and their large eyes are ideally suited for locating their planktonic prey at night. They are generally found in shallow water under ledges and near the mouth of caves.
Probably a juvenile Gunn's Leatherjacket, although the darkest one I have ever seen! Juvenile Gunn's Leatherjackets are common under piers. Adults change to a longer body shape, and are often a green or yellowish brown, and are not seen as frequently as the juveniles.
Nlue Weed Whitings, and Goatfish. Blue Weed Whiting can grow to 40 cm. Despite their name, they can be a greenish/grey, as well as a light blue.. Younger fish are commonly seen in shallow seagrass meadows.
Male Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Juvenile Toothbrush Leatherjackets live in schools, and are found in sheltered environments such as seagrass beds.
Male Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Magpie Perch look quite different as juveniles and adults. Juveniles have a pronounced dorsal fin, starting just behind the eyes, but this fin seems to disappear in adults. The middle dark band can be either black or grey in adults, and they can change colour by lightening these bands almost instantly. Juveniles are often seen nibbling/sucking bits from the pier pylons, and adults continue this method of eating, sucking small invertebrates of the bottom.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Sadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Moonlighters have six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Sadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Sadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. As seen in this photo, the male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Sadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Female Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Female Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
We think that these are eggs, but we don't know what laid them.
Mado are one of the most common species on New South Wales coastal reefs, but are less common in Victorian waters. They have an elongated silver body with black stripes running the length of the body, and yellow fins. This juvenile was the first I had seen at Flinders
Female Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Male Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Kirsty Batchelor diving underneath Flinder Pier, 18 January 2018.
Female Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Female Ornate Cowfish. Males have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor
Weather/Sea: 10 Kts North Easterly.
