Animal Species:Western Talma, Chelmonops curiosus (Kuiter, 1986)

The Western Talma is a deep bodied, compressed fish with a long pointed snout and high dorsal and anal fins. It is silvery with five black bars. The species occurs from South Australia to the central coast of Western Australia.

Western Talma at Rapid Bay Jetty

Western Talma at Rapid Bay Jetty
Phil Mercurio © Phil Mercurio

Alternative Name/s

It is also been called the Truncate Coralfish, Coral Fish, Truncate Butterflyfish, Southern Butterflyfish and Squareback Butterflyfish.

Identification

The Western Talma is a deep bodied, compressed fish with a long pointed snout and high dorsal and anal fins. It is silvery with five black bars. The ventral fins are black with a leading white edge.

Size range

It grows to 26 cm in length.

Similar Species

The Western Talma resembles the Eastern Talma. The Western Talma can be distinguished by its longer dorsal and anal fins, and deeper body.

Distribution

The species occurs from South Australia to the central coast of Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Chelmonops+curiosus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Western Talma specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is usually found on coastal rocky reefs.

Classification

Species:
curiosus
Genus:
Chelmonops
Family:
Chaetodontidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1986. A new species of butterflyfish, Chelmonops curiosus, from Australia's south coast. Revue Francaise d'Aquariologie. 13(3): 73-78.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Western Talma, Chelmonops curiosus, Chaetodontidae, silver, black, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, coastal, marine, adult, triangular body, short tail,