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ANIMAL SPECIES:Old Wife, Enoplosus armatus (White, 1790)

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The derogatory standard name of the species apparently refers to the sound made when a fish is caught on hook and line.  The teeth are ground together supposedly producing the sound of an 'old wife'.

Identification

The Old Wife is easily recognised by its distinctive shape and colouration. It has a deep body, and two separate dorsal fins, the second being sickle-like.

The body is silver-white to brown and has six to eight black bands of variable width.

Juveniles are more elongate than adults and have a blotched colour pattern and a white-rimmed spot on the soft dorsal fin.

The Old Wife was given its rather derogatory name in reference to the sound it makes by grinding its teeth after it is caught.

Enoplosus armatus is the only species in the family Enoplosidae.

Size range

The species grows to 25 cm.

Distribution

The Old Wife is endemic to Australia. It is found in southern waters from southern Queensland to south-western Western Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Old Wife specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Adults are common on coastal reefs, often seen as solitary individuals or in pairs, but will also form large schools. Juveniles live in estuaries.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

The species is carnivorous, eating primarily crustaceans and worms.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The dorsal fin spines of the Old Wife contain a venom which can cause severe pain.

Classification

Species:
armatus
Genus:
Enoplosus
Family:
Enoplosidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F., C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 29 April 2010

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Old Wife, Enoplosus armatus

Old Wife, Enoplosus armatus View full size
David and Leanne Atkinson © David and Leanne Atkinson

Old Wife at Cabbage Tree Island

Old Wife at Cabbage Tree Island View full size
David and Leanne Atkinson © David and Leanne Atkinson

Schooling Old Wife

Schooling Old Wife View full size
David and Leanne Atkinson © David and Leanne Atkinson

Juvenile Old Wife

Juvenile Old Wife View full size
Mark McGrouther © Australian Museum

X-ray image of an Old Wife

X-ray image of an Old Wife View full size
James King © Australian Museum

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