Researchers' Diaries

Sue Morrison

Acting Curator, Fish Section, Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum

Sue Morrison, Acting Curator, Fish Section, Aquatic Zoology

Fishy comments, Kimberley 2009

Our field identifications revealed over 240 species of fishes from Adele Island and Montgomery Reef. These were from 10 visual surveys on SCUBA and 13 intertidal surveys. The most diverse families were the gobies, damselfishes, wrasses, cardinalfishes and rock cods, which is a common pattern for inshore reef fish assemblages. Only nine species of sharks and rays were recorded, and these were in low numbers. It must be remembered that open water species, particularly sharks, are difficult to see in the low visibility of the silty waters. Laboratory examination of the specimens is necessary before the final identifications can be confirmed, and a comparison between the two sites made.

Overall, the diversity of the fish communities was low compared with the offshore atolls (Rowley Shoals, Scott & Seringapatam Reefs), and had more in common with the fishes of the Dampier Archipelago. This agrees with findings of earlier surveys in the Kimberley by Allen & Hutchins.

The Kimberley, however, has its own unique fish faunal ‘signature’ with assemblages of species found nowhere else. Some species are endemic to the north west region and a few to the Kimberley itself while others are typical of the Queensland region. Jeff Johnson of the Queensland Museum made the exciting discovery of a new species of longfin velvetfish, which was collected at both Adele and Montgomery sites. It’s a difficult fish to spot, as it has excellent camouflage resembling the Padina weed it lives among. This demonstrates how important it is to continue thorough taxonomic survey work in this largely unexplored region. It is anticipated that further new species are waiting to be revealed.

Sue Morrison with voucher specimens

Copyright Western Australian Museum

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