Found from Minnie Waters, NSW to Shark Bay, WA; also Lord Howe and Norfolk Is. Intertidal to 35m. Distinctive large black spot with white surround on pectoral fin base. Orbital tentacle 2-6% standard length (i.e. large!), elongated, simple; crenulate or with rounded dorsal margin and several lateral lobes. Nasal tentacle with 3-4 elongated lobes. Fins with dark margins / rays and transparent interfaces; especially noticeable with pectoral and caudal fins. 7 reddish vertical bands in sections with marbled appearance.

Most similar to Whiteleggs Weedfish H whiteleggii which is restricted to NSW and southern Qld. H whiteleggii is smaller and normally found from intertidal to about 5m only. It can be very common in the shallows once the diver starts searching the turfing algae, whereas H roseus seems more solitary.

• Max Size: 15 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 13.3-24.6°C
• Depth: 0-35m
• Habitat: Rocky Reef

• IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
• Occurrence: Infrequent (5% 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: Solitary (1 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.