Chelmonops curiosus

(Kuiter, 1986)

Vernacular names
English : Western talma
French : Talma occidental

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Acanthuriformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Chaetodontidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows to 26 cm in length. Long snout, elongated dorsal fin tip. Coloration dirty silvery white with clumps of dark dots on upper flanks. Five broad vertical brown bars (edged light blue-white) from head to tail peduncle.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, from west Australian coasts to most of south Australia. Lives in coastal rocky reefs, near vertical rock faces, from 9 to 60 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is found in relatively safe and intact habitats. It is collected for the trade in small numbers and this doesn’t seem to be a threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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