Chelmonops curiosus

Chaetodontidae
Western Talma
  • Chelmonops curiosus, Adult. Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Chelmonops curiosus, Adult. Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Chelmonops curiosus, Baird Bay, SA, Photo: Andrew Green
    Chelmonops curiosus, Baird Bay, SA, Photo: Andrew Green
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Silver body with five black bands down the sides and a blue line inside the rear edge of the high dorsal and anal fins. The species commonly occurs in pairs, which move slowly over the reef picking at small invertebrates.
Information
  • Max Size: 26 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 13.3-23.3°C
  • Depth: 2-40m
  • Habitat: Rocky Reef
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 27.2
    Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
  • Occurrence: Widespread (61% of sites)
    Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
  • Abundance: Few (2 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney
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