Reef Watch Victoria

Scalyfin are Australia’s largest damselfish. They have a rounded head with eyes close to a small mouth. The back end of the body is quite square and has a forked tail. Males are grey to purple black. Females are yellow to olive. Both have a fine iridescent blue line around the body margin. Young scalyfin are bright yellow with iridescent lines and a ring on their upper body and fins.

Scalyfins are herbivorous and adults of both sexes tend a territory where they raise preferred seaweeds. They are very aggressive towards any animals or divers that squash their prized vegetables. They typically shelter under a rock or ledges in the middle of their territory. Grow to 25cm.

Image: upper - adult male; lower - juvenile

Map interpretation: This maps show the average abundance of this species, as observed by participants in the Great Victorian Fish Count. Each dot represents a site that has been monitered by Reef Watch, and the colour of the dot shows the average abundance, as detailed in the legend. Tentative sightings occur when the Reef Watcher is not 100% confident of the identification, or where the sighting is outside the previously known distribution of the species. It would be great to confirm these sightings with a photograph or further observations.

References:

Edgar, Graham. J. 1997. Australian Marine Life - the plants and animals of temperate waters (revised edition). New Holland : Sydney .
Gomon, Martin. F, Glover, J. C. M., & Kuiter, R. H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia 's South Coast . State Print: Adelaide .
Hutchins, Barry, & Swainston, Roger. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia - Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing and Gary Allen: Smithfield .
Kuiter, Rudie. H. 1993. The Complete Divers' & Fishermen's Guide to Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia . Crawford House Press: Bathurst .
Kuiter, Rudie. H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia - A comprehensive reference for divers & fishermen. New Holland : Sydney .