List name
Museums Field Guide apps species profiles – vertebrates
List type
Species characters list
Description
Species profiles that feature in a suite of eight Field Guide apps, one for every State and Territory in Australia, made by a collaboration of museums. The apps are available for Apple and Android devices and are free to download. The project was undertaken during 2012-2014 and was funded by the Federal Government through an Inspiring Australia, Unlocking Australia’s Potential grant. Partners in the project were Museum Victoria, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Australian Museum, Queensland Museum Network, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Western Australian Museum, and the South Australian Museum.
URL
https://museumsvictoria.com.au/apps/national-field-guide-apps/
Date submitted
2014-06-23
Last Update
2024-01-19
Date last uploaded
2016-06-14
Date last matched
2016-06-14
Is private
No
Included in species pages
Yes
Authoritative
Yes
Invasive
No
Threatened
No
Part of the sensitive data service
No
Region
Not provided
Loose Name Search
Metadata Link
https://collections.ala.org.au/public/show/dr1146

1060 Number of Taxa

1047 Distinct Species

3 Unrecognised Taxa

Refine results

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Pseudocaranx georgianus
Pseudocaranx georgianus (Cuvier, 1833)
Silver Trevallies
 
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Delphinus delphis
Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758
Common Dolphin
 
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Eubalaena australis
Eubalaena australis (Desmoulins, 1822)
Southern Right Whale
 
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Tursiops truncatus
Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821)
Bottlenose Dolphin
 
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Hirundo (Hirundo) neoxena
Hirundo (Hirundo) neoxena Gould, 1843
Welcome Swallow
 
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Pomatomus saltatrix
Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766)
Tailor
 
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Megaptera novaeangliae
Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781)
Humpback Whale
 
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Ailuroedus crassirostris
Ailuroedus crassirostris (Paykull, 1815)
Green Catbird
 
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Alectura lathami
Alectura lathami J.E. Gray, 1831
Australian Brush-turkey
 
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Anthus (Anthus) novaeseelandiae
Anthus (Anthus) novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1789)
Australian Pipit
 
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Cacatua (Licmetis) tenuirostris
Cacatua (Licmetis) tenuirostris (Kuhl, 1820)
Long-billed Corella
 
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Calyptorhynchus (Calyptorhynchus) lathami
Calyptorhynchus (Calyptorhynchus) lathami (Temminck, 1807)
Glossy Black-cockatoo
 
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Centropus phasianinus
Centropus phasianinus (Latham, 1801)
Pheasant Coucal
 
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Cracticus nigrogularis
Cracticus nigrogularis (Gould, 1837)
Pied Butcherbird
 
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Dicrurus bracteatus bracteatus
Dicrurus bracteatus bracteatus Gould, 1843
Southern Spangled Drongo
 
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Entomyzon cyanotis
Entomyzon cyanotis (Latham, 1801)
Blue-faced Honeyeater
 
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Eurystomus orientalis
Eurystomus orientalis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Dollarbird
 
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Hirundapus caudacutus
Hirundapus caudacutus (Latham, 1801)
White-throated Needletail
 
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Petrochelidon (Petrochelidon) ariel
Petrochelidon (Petrochelidon) ariel (Gould, 1842)
Fairy Martin
 
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Leucosarcia melanoleuca
Leucosarcia melanoleuca (Latham, 1801)
Wonga Pigeon
 
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Lopholaimus antarcticus
Lopholaimus antarcticus (Shaw, 1793)
Topknot Pigeon
 
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Malurus (Leggeornis) lamberti
Malurus (Leggeornis) lamberti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
Variegated Fairy-wren
 
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Manorina (Manorina) melanophrys
Manorina (Manorina) melanophrys (Latham, 1801)
Bell Miner
 
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Meliphaga (Meliphaga) lewinii
Meliphaga (Meliphaga) lewinii (Swainson, 1837)
Lewin's Honeyeater
 
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Myiagra (Seisura) inquieta
Myiagra (Seisura) inquieta (Latham, 1801)
Restless Flycatcher
 
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Origma solitaria
Origma solitaria (Lewin, 1808)
Rockwarbler
 
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Philemon (Tropidorhynchus) corniculatus
Philemon (Tropidorhynchus) corniculatus (Latham, 1790)
Noisy Friarbird
 
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Phylidonyris (Meliornis) niger
Phylidonyris (Meliornis) niger (Bechstein, 1811)
White-cheeked Honeyeater
 
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Polytelis anthopeplus
Polytelis anthopeplus (Lear, 1831)
Regent Parrot
 
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Psophodes (Psophodes) olivaceus
Psophodes (Psophodes) olivaceus (Latham, 1801)
Eastern Whipbird
 
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Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Vieillot, 1816)
Satin Bowerbird
 
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Pycnonotus (Pycnonotus) jocosus
Pycnonotus (Pycnonotus) jocosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Red-whiskered Bulbul
 
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Sericornis (Sericornis) frontalis
Sericornis (Sericornis) frontalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)
White-browed Scrubwren
 
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Sphecotheres vieilloti
Sphecotheres vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
Australasian Figbird
 
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Struthidea cinerea cinerea
Struthidea cinerea cinerea Gould, 1837
Southern Apostlebird
 
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Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus (Kuhl, 1820)
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
 
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Tyto javanica
Tyto javanica (Gmelin, 1788)
Eastern Barn Owl
 
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Anthochaera (Xanthomyza)
Anthochaera (Xanthomyza) Swainson, 1837
 
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Achoerodus viridis
Achoerodus viridis (Steindachner, 1866)
Eastern Blue Groper
 
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Anoplocapros inermis
Anoplocapros inermis (Fraser-Brunner, 1935)
Eastern Smooth Boxfish
 
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Aptychotrema rostrata
Aptychotrema rostrata (Shaw & Nodder, 1794)
Eastern Shovelnose Ray
 
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Carcharhinus obscurus
Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur, 1818)
Bronze Whaler Sharks
 
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Carcharias taurus
Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810
Greynurse Shark
 
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Centroberyx affinis
Centroberyx affinis (Günther, 1859)
Redfish
 
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Centropogon australis
Centropogon australis (White, 1790)
Eastern Fortescue
 
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Cheilodactylus fuscus
Cheilodactylus fuscus Castelnau, 1879
Red Morwong
 
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Chironemus marmoratus
Chironemus marmoratus Günther, 1860
Eastern Kelpfish
 
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Cleidopus gloriamaris
Cleidopus gloriamaris De Vis, 1882
Australian Pineapplefish
 
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Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus Kaup, 1855
Threebar Porcupinefish
 
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Epinephelus daemelii
Epinephelus daemelii (Günther, 1876)
Black Rockcod
 
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Girella tricuspidata
Girella tricuspidata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Luderick
 
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Gymnothorax cribroris
Gymnothorax cribroris Whitley, 1932
Sieve Moray
 
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Heterodontus galeatus
Heterodontus galeatus (Günther, 1870)
Crested Hornshark
 
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Latropiscis purpurissatus
Latropiscis purpurissatus (Richardson, 1843)
Sergeant Baker
 
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Hippocampus whitei
Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855
White's Seahorse
 
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Hypnos monopterygius
Hypnos monopterygius (Shaw & Nodder, 1795)
Coffin Ray
 
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Isurus oxyrinchus
Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810
Shortfin Mako
 
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Microcanthus strigatus
Microcanthus strigatus (Cuvier, 1831)
Stripey
 
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Mola mola
Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758)
Ocean Sunfish
 
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Monacanthus chinensis
Monacanthus chinensis (Osbeck, 1765)
Fanbelly Leatherjacket
 
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Notolabrus gymnogenis
Notolabrus gymnogenis (Günther, 1862)
Crimsonband Wrasse
 
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Orectolobus halei
Orectolobus halei Whitley, 1940
Gulf Wobbegong
 
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Paraplesiops bleekeri
Paraplesiops bleekeri (Günther, 1861)
Eastern Blue Devil
 
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Parupeneus spilurus
Parupeneus spilurus (Bleeker, 1854)
Blacksaddle Goatfish
 
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Pataecus fronto
Pataecus fronto Richardson, 1844
Red Indian Fish
 
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Plotosus lineatus
Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787)
Striped Catfish
 
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Scorpaena cardinalis
Scorpaena cardinalis Solander & Richardson, 1842
Cook's Scorpionfish
 
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Scorpaenopsis insperata
Scorpaenopsis insperata Motomura, 2004
Sydney Scorpionfish
 
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Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker, 1854
Robust Ghostpipefish
 
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Tetractenos hamiltoni
Tetractenos hamiltoni (Richardson, 1846)
Common Toadfish
 
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Trygonoptera testacea
Trygonoptera testacea Müller & Henle, 1841
Common Stingaree
 
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Adelotus brevis
Adelotus brevis (Günther, 1863)
Tusked Frog
 
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Platyplectrum fletcheri
Platyplectrum fletcheri (Boulenger, 1890)
Fletcher's Frog
 
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Limnodynastes terraereginae
Limnodynastes terraereginae Fry, 1915
Northern Banjo Frog
 
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Litoria caerulea
Litoria caerulea (White, 1790)
Green Tree Frog
 
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Litoria chloris
Litoria chloris (Boulenger, 1893)
Red-eyed Tree Frog
 
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Litoria dentata
Litoria dentata (Keferstein, 1868)
Bleating Tree Frog
 
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Litoria fallax
Litoria fallax (Peters, 1880)
Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
 
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Litoria gracilenta
Litoria gracilenta (Peters, 1869)
Dainty Green Tree Frog
 
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Litoria jervisiensis
Litoria jervisiensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841)
Jervis Bay Tree Frog
 
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Litoria nasuta
Litoria nasuta (Gray, 1842)
Rocket Frog
 
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Litoria peronii
Litoria peronii (Tschudi, 1838)
Peron's Tree Frog
 
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Litoria phyllochroa
Litoria phyllochroa (Günther, 1863)
Leaf-green Tree Frog
 
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Mixophyes fasciolatus
Mixophyes fasciolatus Günther, 1864
Great Barred Frog
 
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Notaden bennettii
Notaden bennettii Günther, 1873
Crucifix Frog
 
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Platyplectrum ornatum
Platyplectrum ornatum (Gray, 1842)
Ornate Burrowing Frog
 
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Pseudophryne australis
Pseudophryne australis (Gray, 1835)
Red-crowned Toadlet
 
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Rhinella marina
Rhinella marina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cane Toad
 
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Uperoleia tyleri
Uperoleia tyleri Davies & Littlejohn, 1986
Tyler's Toadlet
 
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Anomalopus mackayi
Anomalopus mackayi Greer & Cogger, 1985
Five-clawed Worm-skink
 
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Ctenotus taeniolatus
Ctenotus taeniolatus (White, 1790)
Copper-tailed Skink
 
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Cyclodomorphus michaeli
Cyclodomorphus michaeli Wells & Wellington, 1984
Mainland She-oak Skink
 
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Egernia cunninghami
Egernia cunninghami (Gray, 1832)
Cunningham's Skink
 
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Eulamprus leuraensis
Eulamprus leuraensis Wells & Wellington, 1984
Blue Mountains Swamp-skink
 
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Lophosaurus spinipes
Lophosaurus spinipes (Duméril & Duméril, 1851)
Southern Angle-headed Dragon
 
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Lerista punctatovittata
Lerista punctatovittata (Günther, 1867)
Eastern Robust Slider
 
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Oedura tryoni
Oedura tryoni De Vis, 1884
Southern Spotted Velvet Gecko
 
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Phyllurus platurus
Phyllurus platurus (White, 1790)
Broad-tailed Gecko
 
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Saiphos equalis
Saiphos equalis (Gray, 1825)
Three-toed Skink
 
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Saproscincus mustelinus
Saproscincus mustelinus (O'Shaughnessy, 1874)
Weasel Skink
 
Action Supplied Name Scientific Name (matched) Kingdom Family Image Common Name (matched) Brief description Description Biology Habitat Native status Maximum size (cm) Diet Link to video Dangerous Colours Distribution Habitat types Depth Water column Commercial species Calling Months Where seen When seen Author credit
Pseudocaranx georgianus Pseudocaranx georgianus
Silver Trevallies
Author(s): (Cuvier, 1833)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Carangidae - Pseudocaranx
Silver Trevallies
Body oval, compressed, tail strongly forked, scutes rear of midline, pectoral fins scythe-like; greenish-blue above, silvery below, black spot on gill cover.
Body deep, oval, compressed, tail base very slender, caudal fin strongly forked; pectoral fins long, slender, scythe-like; scutes at rear end of lateral line. Greenish-blue above, silvery below, with a rather large diffuse black spot on upper margin of gill cover; juveniles and subadults often banded with yellow mid-lateral stripe and faint yellow stripe along dorsal and anal-fin bases. Up to 94 cm.
Large mobile schools of Silver Trevally move in and out of estuaries, and often hang around jetties and piers.
Coastal waters and bays, often near rocky areas, in depths of 0-30 m.
Recorded in Australia
New Zealand and southern Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
Midwater
False
Dianne J. Bray, Dr Martin F. Gomon / Museum Victoria
Delphinus delphis Delphinus delphis
Common Dolphin
Author(s): Linnaeus, 1758
Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Cetacea - Delphinidae - Delphinus
Common Dolphin
Dark upper body, pale yellow sides, black stripe along beak, black patch around eye.
Upper body dark grey from beak to midway between the dorsal fin and tail flukes. Sides of body pale yellow and sides of tail grey-white. Dark stripe from beak and dark patch around each eye. Up to 2.5 m long.
Common Dolphins swim in groups (pods), sometimes with hundreds or thousands of individuals. Their food includes shoaling and mid-water fish and squid. They are at risk from entanglement in nets.
Open water and shallow coastal seas.
Recorded in Australia
Carnivore
Worldwide. Most Australian waters.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
False
Dr Erich Fitzgerald, Dr Ryan Jefferies, Dr Kevin C Rowe / Museum Victoria
Eubalaena australis Eubalaena australis
Southern Right Whale
Author(s): (Desmoulins, 1822)
Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Cetacea - Balaenidae - Eubalaena
Southern Right Whale
Blue-black, white patches underneath, white growths on head, 'V' shape blow.
Body blue-black with white patches underneath. Head wide, with white callosities (calluses) above and below the mouth and near the eyes and on top of head. Mouth curves down. Water vapour is sprayed from the blowhole forming a 'V' shape spray less than 5 m high. Up to 18 m long.
Southern Right Whales can dive underwater for about 15 minutes. They do not feed in Australian waters. The females give birth to a young calf every three years, which swims at the mother's side for up to twelve months. Deaths have been reported from being tangled in fishing nets and from collisions with ships. They feed on plankton, krill and copepods (small crustaceans).
Temperate and polar oceans, near coastlines.
Recorded in Australia
Plankton or Particles
Southern temperate to subpolar waters including marine areas of southern Australia from May to October.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
False
Dr Erich Fitzgerald, Dr Ryan Jefferies, Dr Kevin C Rowe / Museum Victoria
Tursiops truncatus Tursiops truncatus
Bottlenose Dolphin
Author(s): (Montagu, 1821)
Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Cetacea - Delphinidae - Tursiops
Bottlenose Dolphin
Upper body dark to light grey, fading to white underneath.
Upper body dark to light grey, fading to white underneath. Head and tail stock paler than body when viewed from above. Beak short and wide with 21-29 pairs of teeth in each jaw. Mouth curves upwards. Up to 3.8 m long.
Bottlenose Dolphins live in groups of up to several hundred. They eat a range of food, mostly fish and squid. They are usually found in offshore locations. They are common in captivity, where they are often trained to perform for humans.
Open water, bays and occasionally tidal areas of rivers.
Recorded in Australia
Carnivore
Worldwide. Most Australian waters.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
False
Dr Erich Fitzgerald, Dr Ryan Jefferies, Dr Kevin C Rowe / Museum Victoria
Hirundo (Hirundo) neoxena Hirundo (Hirundo) neoxena
Welcome Swallow
Author(s): Gould, 1843
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Hirundinidae - Hirundo
Welcome Swallow
A small blue-black bird with a grey-white belly, red-brown face and forked tail.
Upper body parts shiny blue-black and underparts grey-white. Forehead and throat red-brown. Tail forked. Body up to 15 cm long.
Numbers of Welcome Swallows vary seasonally, with large flocks common in coastal areas. They feed on insects, which they catch in flight.
Most areas.
Native to Australia
Insects
Mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Terrestrial
Shore (0-1m)
Above surface
False
Museum Victoria Sciences Staff / Museum Victoria
Pomatomus saltatrix Pomatomus saltatrix
Tailor
Author(s): (Linnaeus, 1766)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Pomatomidae - Pomatomus
Tailor
Body robust, moderately long, compressed, two dorsal fins, the first with short spines; bluish-green to steely-grey above, silvery-white below.
Body robust, streamlined, covered in small scales; two separate dorsal fins, the first with short spines, tail large, forked; jaws large reaching beyond the eye with a single row of prominent knife-like teeth. Greenish-blue to steel-grey above, fading to silver below, with a small dark blotch at pectoral-fin base, iris yellow. Up to 1.2 m, usually 40 cm long head to tail tip.
Tailor are fast-swimming voracious predators and feed on small schooling fishes such as anchovies, herring and mullet. This wide-ranging species spawns in the open sea and is seasonally migratory, occurring in southern Australian waters during summer months. It is highly prized by recreational anglers and is excellent eating. The name 'Tailor' comes from the habit of cutting fishing nets with its scissor-like teeth.
Primarily pelagic in the open ocean, coming inshore close to beaches and into bays in search of food, in depths of 1-15 m.
Recorded in Australia
Carnivore
Widespread in subtropical and temperate coastal waters, seasonally present in southern Australian waters.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
Midwater
True
Dianne J. Bray, Dr Martin F. Gomon / Museum Victoria
Megaptera novaeangliae Megaptera novaeangliae
Humpback Whale
Author(s): (Borowski, 1781)
Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Cetacea - Balaenopteridae - Megaptera
Humpback Whale
Grey-black body with white underside, small curved dorsal fin, tail white underneath, white patches on flippers, bushy jet as water vapour spray.
Body grey-black above with extensive white on lower part of the body, occasionally extending to dorsal surface. Small dorsal fin with curved edge. Flippers on side of body have white underneath and lumps on the front edge. Tail dark on top; white underneath. Water vapour spray from blowhole is a single bushy jet less than 5 m high. Adults can grow up to 16 m long.
Humpback Whales migrate to warmer Australian waters in Hervey Bay and the Great Barrier Reef to breed in winter months. They feed on plankton.
Open oceans and near coastlines.
Recorded in Australia
Plankton or Particles
Worldwide. A winter migrant in marine areas of Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
False
Dr Erich Fitzgerald, Dr Ryan Jefferies, Dr Kevin C Rowe / Museum Victoria
Ailuroedus crassirostris Ailuroedus crassirostris
Green Catbird
Author(s): (Paykull, 1815)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Ptilonorhynchidae - Ailuroedus
Green Catbird
Large, stout, green body with white spots, red eyes.
Large, stout, green bird, spotted white, with a dusky crown, nape and face and a white bill. The eye is red. Juveniles are duller in colour. Body length up to 33 cm.
Although they belong to the bowerbird family, the males of this species do not build bowers and only mate with one female, helping her to defend and feed their offspring. They usually feed in pairs or small groups, moving from tree to tree in the mid to upper canopy. Their diet consists of fruit, notably figs, flowers, and other plant material; they have also been known to kill baby birds to feed young during the breeding season and will eat small reptiles too. They have a cat-like mewing call; sometimes likened to the cry of a human baby.
Temperate and sub-tropical rainforest and paperbarks, and sometimes adjacent eucalypt forest.
33
Omnivore
Green, Brown
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Alectura lathami Alectura lathami
Australian Brush-turkey
Author(s): J.E. Gray, 1831
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Galliformes - Megapodiidae - Alectura
Australian Brush-turkey
Large bird, black body plumage with a red head.
A large bird with mainly black body plumage, bare red head, yellow throat wattle (pale blue in northern birds), a laterally-flattened tail and large feet. Size up to 75 cm.
It feeds on insects, seeds and fallen fruits, which are exposed by raking the leaf litter or breaking open rotten logs with its large feet. The male usually builds a large mound of organic matter, approximately 4 m in diameter and 1 m high. Eggs are laid by several females in a single mound and are incubated by the heat given off by the rotting vegetation. The male maintains a constant temperature of 33-38°C by digging holes in the mound and inserting his bill to check the heat, then adding or removing vegetable matter as required. After hatching, the chicks burrow out of the mound. The hatchlings are fully feathered and are able to walk and fend for themselves immediately. Remarkably, they are able to fly just a few hours after hatching.
Rainforest and wet sclerophyll forests, but can also be found in drier scrubs.
75
Omnivore
Black, Red, Yellow
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Anthus (Anthus) novaeseelandiae Anthus (Anthus) novaeseelandiae
Australian Pipit
Author(s): (Gmelin, 1789)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Motacillidae - Anthus
Australian Pipit
Well-camouflaged, brown, ground-dweller with pale pink/grey bill and feet.
Well-camouflaged, brown ground-dwelling bird, with darker brown streaks above and pale creamy white stripes on the eyebrows and below the cheeks. Underparts are creamy white, spotted and streaked dark on the breast. Wings and tail are dark brown, with the outermost tail feathers white. Bill and feet are pale pink-grey. Body length up to 18 cm.
Diet consists of insects and their larvae, as well as seeds. It forages in a jerky, darting motion, stopping to perch on low stones or shrubs, wagging its tail up and down. Breeding pairs are formed after an elaborate courtship ritual, with males making swooping dives from a height, accompanied by a sweet trilling song. The nest is a depression in the ground, sometimes sheltered by a grass tussock, stone or piece of wood, and lined with grasses and hairs. The female incubates the eggs and feeds the young.
Open country, in a range of habitat types from saltmarshes to dry shrublands and open woodland clearings.
18
Insectivore
Brown
Across Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Cacatua (Licmetis) tenuirostris Cacatua (Licmetis) tenuirostris
Long-billed Corella
Author(s): (Kuhl, 1820)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Psittaciformes - Cacatuidae - Cacatua
Long-billed Corella
Medium-sized, white stocky body with a distinctive long upper bill and pale grey/blue eye ring.
A medium-sized white cockatoo with a short crest (not always visible), short tail, stocky body and a distinctive long upper bill. Faint yellowish wash on the undersides of its wings and tail; orange-red splashes on its forehead and throat; and an orange-red crescent across its upper breast. Eye ring is pale grey-blue. Body length up to 41 cm.
It is a conspicuous and gregarious bird; often seen foraging in large flocks on the ground. Its call is a loud, quavering, two-syllable 'wulluk-wulluk' or 'cadillac-cadillac', as well as a harsh screech. Forms monogamous pairs and both parents prepare the nest, incubate the eggs and feed the young. Nests are made in the hollows of large old eucalypts, and sometimes in cavities of loose gravelly cliffs. The eggs are laid on a lining of decayed wood.
Grassy woodlands and grasslands, including pasture and crops, as well as parks in urban areas.
41
Omnivore
White
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Calyptorhynchus (Calyptorhynchus) lathami Calyptorhynchus (Calyptorhynchus) lathami
Glossy Black-cockatoo
Author(s): (Temminck, 1807)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Psittaciformes - Cacatuidae - Calyptorhynchus
Glossy Black-cockatoo
Large dull black body, bulbous bill, red tail panels.
Brown-black head, neck and underparts, with red or orange-red tail panels and a dull black body. Crest is small and inconspicuous; the bill is broad and bulbous. Females have yellow patches on the head and neck and tail panels are more orange-red with black bars. Male tail panels tend to be bright red. Young birds have yellow spotted or streaked breasts, bellies and flanks, with some yellow spots on the cheeks and sides of the head. Body length up to 48 cm.
Quieter and less raucous than other black-cockatoos, they can be detected by the clicking of their bills and the falling debris of casuarina cones and twigs. These birds mate for life, with pairs maintaining their bond all year round. The female prepares the nest hollow and incubates the eggs, only leaving the nest to feed after the newly-hatched nestlings are a week old. Males feed the female and nestlings throughout the incubation and brooding period. Populations have declined due to land clearing practices that have removed food sources and nesting sites, leading to local extinctions and range contractions. More frequent and intense fires in south-eastern Australia since European settlement have also reduced suitable habitat. Diet is almost exclusively Allocasuarina seeds.
Woodland dominated by Allocasuarina and in open forests. Often confined to remnant Allocasuarina patches surrounded by cleared farmlands.
48
Granivore
Black, Red, Brown, Orange
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Centropus (Polophilus) phasianinus Centropus phasianinus
Pheasant Coucal
Author(s): (Latham, 1801)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Cuculiformes - Cuculidae - Centropus
Pheasant Coucal
Large ground-dwelling cuckoo with a long tail, short wings, and red eyes.
A large 'pheasant-like', ground-dwelling cuckoo, with a long tail and short rounded wings. It has a black head, neck, underbody and tail that is barred orange; upperparts and wings are reddish-brown with black and cream barring during the breeding season. Out of breeding season, the head and back return to a reddish chestnut and the underparts are cinnamon brown, with all streaked boldly white. The eye is red. Females are larger than males. Body size up to 70 cm.
Feeds on the ground on large insects, frogs, lizards, eggs and the young of birds and, sometimes, small mammals. Their call is a deep, hollow 'oop-oop-oop-oop'; also a metallic tapping call. Form lasting pairs and, unlike other Australian cuckoos, build their own nests and raise their young themselves. The nest is usually hidden in thick grass or sugar cane or in weedy thickets, and is a platform of sticks, grass or rushes, lined with leaves and grasses. The male usually incubates the eggs and feeds the young, with the female helping with feeding. More than one clutch can be laid in one season.
Dense understorey vegetation, particularly grasses, rushes, bracken and sedges, in open forests and woodlands, and around wetlands.
70
Omnivore
Black, Brown, White
Northern and eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Cracticus nigrogularis Cracticus nigrogularis
Pied Butcherbird
Author(s): (Gould, 1837)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Artamidae - Cracticus
Pied Butcherbird
Medium black and white bird, hooked grey and black bill, black throat.
A medium-sized black and white bird with a black hood, dark brown eye and a long, hooked, grey and black bill. It has a broad white collar around its neck, a black throat and black legs. The back is mostly black, with large patches of white on the wings and rump. Both sexes have identical plumage, but the male is slightly larger than the female. Juvenile birds are generally duller than the adults with more brown plumage instead of black. Body size up to 38 cm.
It is an aggressive feeder, preying on small reptiles, mammals, frogs and birds, as well as large insects. Most food is caught on the ground. The birds sit on an exposed perch and swoop down on their prey. Hunting groups may consist of several birds from a large group or may also hunt alone or in pairs. The breeding season varies throughout its large range. The female constructs the nest and incubates the eggs alone, and is fed by the male and other members of the group. The nest is a bowl of sticks and twigs, lined with grasses and other finer material. It is usually built in an upright tree fork up to 5 m above the ground. More than one female may lay eggs in the same nest. Often heard before it is seen, its song is a beautiful, melodious fluting, sometimes given in turn by several individuals.
Drier forests and woodlands and often approaches parks and houses
38
Carnivore
Black, White
Across Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Dicrurus bracteatus bracteatus Dicrurus bracteatus bracteatus
Southern Spangled Drongo
Author(s): Gould, 1843
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Dicruridae - Dicrurus
Southern Spangled Drongo
Glossy black with iridescent blue-green spots, red eye and a long forked, “fish-like” tail.
Glossy black plumage, with iridescent blue-green spots (spangles), a long “fish-like” tail and blood red eyes. Sexes are similar, but the female is slightly smaller. Occasional white spotting can be seen on the upper wings in both sexes. Young birds are more sooty black in colour, without the spangles, and the eye is brown. Adult body size up to 32 cm.
Usually seen perched on an open branch or telegraph wire, where they await passing insects. Once seen, its prey is pursued in an acrobatic display, and is caught in its slightly hooked bill, before the bird returns to its perch to eat it. Insects are also taken from foliage and from under bark. Fruit and nectar also form part of its diet. It is a migratory species, moving southwards in late spring and returning north in early autumn. It has a variety of calls, including some distinctive metallic notes like a stretched wire being plucked, and occasional mimicry of other bird species. Both adults participate in building the nest, which is a simple, shallow cup of twigs, vines and grasses, held together with spider web. Normally have only one clutch per season. Both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young.
Wet forests, but can also be found in woodlands, mangroves and parks.
32
Insectivore
Black, Blue, Green
Eastern and northern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Entomyzon cyanotis Entomyzon cyanotis
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Author(s): (Latham, 1801)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Meliphagidae - Entomyzon
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Large black, white and olive-green bird, with blue skin around eyes.
A large black, white and golden olive-green bird with striking blue skin around the eye. The crown, face and neck are black, with a narrow white band across the back of the neck. The wings are a golden olive green, and the underparts are white, with a grey-black throat and upper breast. Juvenile birds are similar to the adults, but the facial skin is yellow-green and the throat is a lighter grey. Size up to 32 cm.
One of the first birds heard calling in the morning, often calling 30 minutes before sunrise. It is gregarious and noisy, emitting a repeated, penetrating call of 'woik'; 'weet weet weet' at daybreak; or a softer 'hwit hwit' or squeak uttered in flight. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks. Is known to feed on nectar, fruits and flowers of native and exotic plants in tropical areas, but feeds mostly on insects and other invertebrates. Generally breeds in pairs, but may sometimes be a cooperative breeder, where immature birds help the main breeding pair to feed nestlings. Most nests are made on the abandoned nests of other birds. Sometimes the nests are not modified, but often they are added to and relined. If a new nest is built, it is a neat round cup of rough bark, lined with finer bark and grass.
Open forests, woodlands, mangroves and coastal heathlands close to water in tropical, sub-tropical and wetter temperate zones.
32
Omnivore
Black, Blue, White, Green
Northern and eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Eurystomus orientalis Eurystomus orientalis
Dollarbird
Author(s): (Linnaeus, 1766)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Coraciiformes - Coraciidae - Eurystomus
Dollarbird
Dark brown body, blue-green wings and back, short orange red bill.
Mostly dark brown upperparts, washed heavily with blue-green on the back and wings. The breast is brown, the belly is lighter and the throat and undertail are a glossy bright blue. The flight feathers of the wing and tail are dark blue. The short thick-set bill is orange-red, tipped with black. In flight, the clearly visible pale-blue coin-shaped patches towards the tips of its wings, give the bird its name. Body length up to 31 cm.
A migratory bird arriving during September from New Guinea and adjacent islands to breed. In March or April the birds return north for the winter. Feeds almost exclusively on flying insects. They search for food from a conspicuous perch and then capture it in skilful aerial pursuits, before returning to the same perch. Occasionally seen feeding on grasshoppers on the ground, although this practice is uncommon. The distinctive, harsh 'kak-kak-kak' call is repeated several times, and is often given in flight. During the breeding season, pairs are often seen flying in characteristic rolling flights. These flights are more common in the evening, and are accompanied by cackling calls.
Open wooded areas, normally with mature, hollow-bearing trees suitable for nesting.
31
Omnivore
Brown, Blue, Green, White
Northern and eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Hirundapus caudacutus Hirundapus caudacutus
White-throated Needletail
Author(s): (Latham, 1801)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Apodiformes - Apodidae - Hirundapus
White-throated Needletail
Long curved wings, short square tail, white underneath and grey brown above.
This large swift has long curved wings and white markings. The plumage is predominantly grey-brown, glossed with green and the wings are long and pointed. The tail is short and square, with the protruding feather shafts giving a spiky appearance. The throat and undertail is white. Body size up to 21 cm.
Non-breeding migrants to Australia, arriving from their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere in October each year and leaving between May and August. Able to fly at speeds of up to 130 km per hour. An aerial bird, and for a time it was commonly believed that they did not land while in Australia. It has now been observed that birds will roost in trees, and radio-tracking has since confirmed that this is a regular activity. Feeds on flying insects, such as termites, ants, beetles and flies. It catches the insects in flight in their wide beaks. Birds usually feed in rising thermal currents associated with storm fronts and bushfires and they are commonly seen moving with wind fronts. While feeding, it protects its eyes with a special membrane and a small ridge of feathers.
Almost exclusively aerial; over a wide variety of habitats.
21
Insectivore
Grey, brown, White, Green
Eastern and Northern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Petrochelidon (Petrochelidon) ariel Petrochelidon (Petrochelidon) ariel
Fairy Martin
Author(s): (Gould, 1842)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Hirundinidae - Petrochelidon
Fairy Martin
Small bird, red head, short forked tail.
A small bird, with blue-black to brown wings, a white underbody and a pinkish-red head. The short, slightly-forked tail appears square in flight. Males and females are similar; juvenile birds are duller in colour. Body size up to 12 cm.
The Fairy Martin is a member of the swallow family and is known as the 'Bottle Swallow' for its characteristic bottle-shaped mud nests. A colonial nester, these birds build mud nests that are packed closely together on the ceilings of caves, and under bridges or other similar structures. Both sexes build the nest and share incubation and care of the young. Feeds high in the air on flying insects, usually in large flocks. The call is a soft, churring and twittering sound.
Open country near water, and is usually seen near its nest sites, on cliffs, culverts or bridges.
12
Insectivore
White, Red, Brown, Black
Across Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Leucosarcia melanoleuca Leucosarcia melanoleuca
Wonga Pigeon
Author(s): (Latham, 1801)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Columbiformes - Columbidae - Leucosarcia
Wonga Pigeon
Large, ground-dwelling, grey bird with distinct white ‘V’ on chest.
A large, plump, ground-dwelling pigeon with a small head, short, broad wings and a long tail. It is mainly grey above, with a pale face, a distinctive white V on the breast and white lower parts that are boldly marked with black-brown crescents and wedges. The eyes are dark red-brown with a pink eye-ring and the bill, feet and legs are deep pink to red. Young birds are browner above and the ‘V’ is less distinct. Body size up to 38 cm.
The Wonga Wonga is known to make clearly visible 'tracks' by following exactly the same path each time they visit a feeding site. It forages exclusively on the ground, feeding on seeds of native and introduced plants as well as fallen fruit and the occasional insect. Its call is a loud monotonous 'woop woop' that can be heard up to 2 km away. It is monogamous, with breeding pairs defending the area around the nest. Threat displays include bowing and clicking while walking towards an intruder. The nest is built in large trees, usually high off the ground, and is a saucer-shaped platform of twigs and sticks, lined with soft plant materials. Both sexes incubate the eggs and feed the young. They use a special 'cryptic posture' when sitting on the nest, keeping their patterned tail raised high and facing any observers, while peering over the tail to keep an eye on potential threats.
Dense coastal forests, rainforests and scrubs. It is often seen in clearings near forests.
38
Omnivore
Grey, White, Red, Brown
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Lopholaimus antarcticus Lopholaimus antarcticus
Topknot Pigeon
Author(s): (Shaw, 1793)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Columbiformes - Columbidae - Lopholaimus
Topknot Pigeon
Large grey pigeon, red bill and eyes, grey crest.
Large grey pigeon with a swept back crest that is grey in front and rusty-red behind, giving the head a unique shape. The body is darker grey above, with lighter grey below. It has dark grey, rounded wings with a pale tail band across the otherwise black tail. The eyes and bill are red. Females have a smaller, paler crest than males. Young birds resemble females, with a more mottled appearance and a browner head with a much smaller crest. Body size up to 60 cm.
It is a frugivore, feeding on a variety of rainforest fruits, as well as those of introduced species such as Camphor Laurels. It may be seen feeding acrobatically among fruits, often hanging upside-down to reach them. It can be located by the sounds of falling fruit and its sharp screech while feeding. It is very rarely seen in suburban areas, but will forage on the outskirts of urban areas if fruits are available. It is nomadic and highly mobile, following seasonally-abundant fruit. In Sydney, birds arrive from the north in autumn and winter. They form monogamous breeding pairs after an elaborate courtship of bowing and parading. Males also fly very high over the canopy to attract females. Nests are built in the crowns of the trees, from 2 m to 12 m above the ground.
Rainforests and nearby wet forests and woodlands, especially along moist sheltered gullies.
60
Frugivore
Grey, Red
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Malurus (Leggeornis) lamberti lamberti Malurus (Leggeornis) lamberti
Variegated Fairy-wren
Author(s): Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Maluridae - Malurus
Variegated Fairy-wren
Small, long tail. Male has a bright blue head and chestnut brown shoulder.
A small bird with a long tail held in a cocked position. The breeding male is brightly coloured, with a blue crown and sides of the head, and the shoulder patch is a rich chestnut brown. The depth and variety of colours in the male varies among the four subspecies, distributed across the Australian mainland. Non-breeding males, females and young birds are brownish grey. Females in the Northern Territory and Western Australian populations have a blue-grey (rather than brown-grey) plumage. Body size up to 12 cm.
The birds feed around the base of small shrubs, and seldom stray into the open. Some food may be found among the bark and foliage of short trees and grasses. Its diet consists of insects and a small amount of seeds. The male is often mistakenly believed to have a harem of females. The small groups actually consist of an adult female with younger or non-breeding birds. As they have a wide range, they have been recorded breeding in almost every month of the year. The nest is an oval-shaped dome, constructed of grasses, and placed in a low shrub. The female alone constructs the nest and incubates the eggs, but is assisted by other group members in feeding the chicks. The call is a mechanical 'triri-tirirrit-tirit-trit-tirrririt-trit-tirrit' sound only in the breeding season.
Forest, woodland and shrub land habitats.
14
Insectivore
Brown, Blue, Grey
Across Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Manorina (Manorina) melanophrys Manorina (Manorina) melanophrys
Bell Miner
Author(s): (Latham, 1801)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Meliphagidae - Manorina
Bell Miner
Medium-large, solid bird, mostly olive-green with a bright yellow bill, red-orange eye patch, yellow legs and feet.
A medium-large and solidly-built honeyeater that is the smallest of the miners. It is mostly olive-green, with a short, down-curved, bright yellow bill, a red-orange bare eye patch, and orange-yellow feet and legs. It has a square tail. The male is slightly larger, but otherwise the sexes are similar. Young birds are duller and browner, with a paler eye patch. Body size up to 20 cm.
More often heard than seen, the birds live in large colonies of 8 - 200 birds and aggressively defend their territories against all intruders. They mainly eat insects, especially psyllids and their lerps (sugary secretions used as protective shelters by the tiny psyllid insects) from the foliage of eucalypts. They also eat nectar and manna. The call is a sweet, musical, bell-like 'tink'. All birds in a colony call all day, with calls starting just before sunrise and finishing just after sunset. They have a complex social structure and are 'obligate co-operative breeders', which means that they are always helped by usually young or unpaired birds, but may also include other breeding adults who are also raising their own young. Found mainly in the temperate zone in broad gullies of foothills or on coastal plains, often at edges of rainforest areas.
Open eucalypt forests and woodlands with a dense shrubby understorey; occasionally found in suburban areas with remnant bushland.
20
Omnivore
Green, Yellow, Brown
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Meliphaga (Meliphaga) lewinii Meliphaga (Meliphaga) lewinii
Lewin's Honeyeater
Author(s): (Swainson, 1837)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Meliphagidae - Meliphaga
Lewin's Honeyeater
Small to medium-sized bird, green grey colour, large crescent-shaped yellowish ear patches.
A small to medium-sized bird, dark greenish grey in colour, with a creamy yellow gape (fleshy corners of the mouth). It has large, yellowish crescent-shaped ear patches. In flight, the pale yellow edges of the flight feathers can be seen. The bill is black and the eye is blue-grey. Both sexes are similar in appearance; juveniles are similar to the adults, but have brown eyes. Body size up to 22 cm.
It feeds mostly on fruits, favouring berries and small fruits, but also eats insects and nectar. Birds are normally seen alone, but may form loose groups of up to 10 birds. They feed in the upper branches and on the trunks of trees. Some insects are caught in flight. The strong 'machine gun'-like rattling notes of the call can be heard over long distances and reveal its presence in an area. The nest is a large cup of vegetation, bound together with spider web and lined with soft material. Little is known about parental roles in nest building and incubation, but both parents care for the young birds.
Rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, and adjacent dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands.
22
Omnivore
Grey, Green, Yellow
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Myiagra (Seisura) inquieta Myiagra (Seisura) inquieta
Restless Flycatcher
Author(s): (Latham, 1801)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Monarchidae - Myiagra
Restless Flycatcher
Medium-sized bird, glossy blue-black head, small crest, white underneath.
A medium-sized bird with a glossy blue-black head, a small crest, white below from the chin to the undertail, with a blue-black bill surrounded by bristles. The back, wings and tail are darker grey and there may be a slight orange brown tint on the breast. Young birds are duller grey-black above, with the throat and breast washed orange-brown. Body size up to 21 cm.
An extremely mobile and active bird, able to hover while feeding, uttering a rasping or grinding call that gives it its common name: Scissors Grinder. It feeds on insects, as well as other invertebrates such as spiders and centipedes, and usually feeds alone or in pairs. When hovering, it hangs almost vertically in the air with its head and spread tail pointing downwards. It rarely comes to the ground to feed, preferring to 'hawk' for insects from perches in the mid-level of the canopy. It builds a small cup-shaped nest of bark and grass, bound with spider web, camouflaged with pieces of lichen and bark, and placed in an exposed position on a tree branch, often near or over water. Both sexes help to build the nest, incubate the eggs and feed the young.
Open forests and woodlands and is frequently seen in farmland.
21
Insectivore
Black, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Origma solitaria Origma solitaria
Rockwarbler
Author(s): (Lewin, 1808)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Acanthizidae - Origma
Rockwarbler
Small, dark brown-grey bird, white throat, black tail.
A small, plump, dark brown-grey bird with a cinnamon-tinged face and forehead, a dull white throat speckled black, reddish-brown underparts, and a black tail, which is often flicked sideways. The wings are dark grey-brown. Young birds are similar to adults, but duller. Body size up to 14 cm.
Nests in sandstone (occasionally limestone or granite) caves, usually in near or complete darkness; the nest is re-used each year. The nest is a suspended dome-shaped structure made from roots, moss, grass and bark bound together with spider webs, and has a round side entrance that is sometimes hooded. The inner nest chamber is lined with soft materials, including feathers, fur, grasses and plant down. Its diet consists of insects and sometimes seeds. It forages on the ground and in low branches, probing for insects in rock crevices, in caves and under ledges. Its call is a shrill, slight mournful 'goodbye' song and a penetrating 'pink' call, along with other rasping notes.
Sclerophyll forests and tall woodlands on rocky outcrops on sandstone formations in and around the Sydney Basin.
14
Insectivore
Brown, Grey, White
Restricted to the sandstone formations around the Sydney region of New South Wales.
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Philemon (Tropidorhynchus) corniculatus Philemon (Tropidorhynchus) corniculatus
Noisy Friarbird
Author(s): (Latham, 1790)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Meliphagidae - Philemon
Noisy Friarbird
Large bird, black head, strong bill with prominent bump, dark brown grey above, white underneath.
A large bird with a distinctive naked black head and a strong bill with a prominent casque (bump) at the base. The upper parts are dark brown to grey; the underbody is off-white, with silver-white feathers around the throat and upper breast; and the tail has a white tip. It is a member of the honeyeater family. Body size up to 35 cm.
Partial migrant in south of range, moving north in autumn and south in late winter. Its diet consists of nectar, fruit, insects and other invertebrates and sometimes eggs or baby birds. It spends most of its time feeding high up in the trees, only coming down to the ground occasionally. Often feeds in noisy flocks, and with other honeyeaters. Its call is a noisy, harsh and discordant deep honking sound: 'tobacco' or 'four o'clock'. Also a sharp 'owk owk'. They form long-term pairs, with both parents defending the nest and surrounds. The female builds the large, deep cup-shaped nest from bark and grass, bound with spider webs, slinging it in a tree-fork. She alone incubates the eggs, but both parents feed the young, for up to three weeks after fledging.
Dry forests and eucalypt woodlands, as well as coastal scrub, heathlands and around wetlands and wet forests.
35
Omnivore
Black, Brown, Grey, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Phylidonyris (Meliornis) niger Phylidonyris (Meliornis) niger
White-cheeked Honeyeater
Author(s): (Bechstein, 1811)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Meliphagidae - Phylidonyris
White-cheeked Honeyeater
Medium size, black and white, long curved bill, bright yellow tail.
A medium-sized black and white bird, with a long, sturdy bill that curves downwards. It has a large bright yellow tail and wing panels, with a large conspicuous white cheek patch on a mainly black head. The eye is dark brown. Young birds are duller (brownish) and paler, with softer, fluffier plumage. Body size up to 19 cm.
Feed mainly at flowers, in foliage, on bark or in the air and mainly eat nectar, but also insects. They often feed in small groups. The call is a loud clear double whistle, and a brief 'e-chip'. Loud chattering and squabbling occurs in groups, as well as rasping alarm calls. Also snaps bill during chases. Forms monogamous pairs for the breeding season, with males defending breeding territories. Males aggressively attack other birds of their own and other species during the breeding season, but not familiar birds such as their own mates, relatives and resident neighbours. The female builds a cup-shaped nest from twigs, bark, and other plant materials, lined with pieces of flowers (e.g. Banksias, Isopogons). The nest is placed low in forked branches of trees or shrubs, often close to the ground, but well-concealed in dense foliage or in grass below shrubs and ferns. Both parents feed young.
Moist heathlands, as well as around wetlands and in forests or woodlands with a heath understorey.
19
Omnivore
Black, White, Yellow
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Polytelis anthopeplus Polytelis anthopeplus
Regent Parrot
Author(s): (Lear, 1831)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Psittaciformes - Psittacidae - Polytelis
Regent Parrot
Large, slim, mostly yellow, long blue black tail, yellow shoulder patch, red bill.
A large, slim parrot with a long, dusky tapering tail and back-swept wings. Males are mostly yellow, with blue-black wings and tail. There is a prominent yellow shoulder patch and red patches in the wings which show up against the dark wings in flight. The bill is deep red or pink. Females and juveniles are duller olive-green with pinkish, duller wing patches. Body size up to 43 cm.
The declining eastern population is reliant upon remnant mallee patches near their tree hollows. Movement of the birds is poorly understood, but it is considered nomadic or resident, probably linked to the availability of water. Its diet consists of seeds of grasses and cereal crops, especially wheat. It also eats buds and flowers, insect larvae, psyllids and lerps. It forages in pairs or small parties, usually on the ground, but also in the canopy of trees or in spilled grain on the ground. Its call is a loud and harsh 'carrak, carrak', but it also makes soft twittering contact calls. Females incubate their eggs in nests in hollow branches or holes in large old or dead trees near water. The males feed the females during incubation.
The eastern population is found in woodland, mallee and floodplain <em>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</em>. The western population is found in open forest and woodland, especially Salmon Gum, <em>E. salmonophloia</em>.
42
Omnivore
Yellow, Blue, Black
South western New South Wales.
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Psophodes (Psophodes) olivaceus Psophodes (Psophodes) olivaceus
Eastern Whipbird
Author(s): (Latham, 1801)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Psophodidae - Psophodes
Eastern Whipbird
Black head and breast, white patch on side of face, olive-green with a long tail.
A medium-sized bird with a black head, breast and conspicuous crest, with a broad white patch on the side of the face that increases in size as the bird matures. It is dark olive-green, with a long tail, and a grey-white belly. The eye is pale cream and the bill is black. Young birds are generally duller in colour and have a smaller crest.
Its call is one of the most characteristic sounds of the Australian bush and is performed as a duet. The male makes the drawn out whip crack and the female usually follows quickly with a sharp 'choo-choo'. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, which are caught on the ground. Feeding takes place alone, in pairs or in small family groups. A breeding pair occupies a territory, which is defended year round, with the mates staying together for many years. The female makes a cup nest of sticks and bark, which is lined with finer grasses, and placed in dense vegetation near the ground. The female also incubates the eggs but the young birds are fed by both parents. The birds are secretive, but can be curious, and will be seen if the observer remains patient.
Wet habitats, including rainforest, eucalypt forest and dense scrub near watercourses, in dense vegetation near the ground.
30
Insectivore
Green, Grey, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
Satin Bowerbird
Author(s): (Vieillot, 1816)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Ptilonorhynchidae - Ptilonorhynchus
Satin Bowerbird
Male: jet black with bluish sheen, blue/white beak and purple iris. Female/juveniles: mottled olive green, blue eye, brown wings and tail.
Satin Bowerbirds are medium-sized birds. The males are jet black, with a bluish satin sheen, a bluish white beak and a violet iris. The females are olive green with blue eyes, mottled green-brown underbellies, brown wings and brown tails. The juveniles resemble the adult females, with the adult males starting to develop their adult plumage at about five years and reaching full satin black at about seven years. Body size ranges from 27 to 33 cm.
Satin Bowerbirds are well-known for their bowers, which the males build on the ground to attract and impress females. Bowers consist of two parallel walls of sticks and are meticulously maintained. The males paint the walls with a mixture of saliva and charcoal and decorate them with blue items such as flowers, feathers, berries, pegs, bottle tops and straws. When a female is nearby, the male will display in and around his bower - prancing, strutting, bowing and calling. If suitably impressed, the female will mate with the male in the bower and then leave to nest and care for her young on her own. Females lay 2-3 pale brown eggs in a saucer-shaped nest in a tree, 5-10 m above the ground. Successful males will mate with numerous females. They eat fruit, berries, leaves and insects. Adult males are usually solitary, but the females are often seen in large groups.
Wet forest, woodlands and nearby open areas.
Native to Australia
Herbivore
Eastern and south-eastern mainland Australia.
Terrestrial
False
Nicole Kearney / Museum Victoria
Pycnonotus (Pycnonotus) jocosus Pycnonotus (Pycnonotus) jocosus
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Author(s): (Linnaeus, 1758)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Pycnonotidae - Pycnonotus
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Black crest, white cheeks, brown back, long white-tipped tail.
Has a pointed black crest, white cheeks, and a brown back. It is reddish under the long white-tipped tail. The red whisker mark, from which it gets its common name, is located below the eye, but is not always easy to see. Both sexes are similar in plumage, while young birds are duller with a greyish-black crown. Body size up to 22 cm.
Is a native species of China but was introduced to Australia in the early 1900s. It feeds on a variety of native and introduced fruits, insects and flower buds. Groups of up to 50 or so birds may gather around a food source, although smaller groups of three to five birds are more common. The call, a characteristic descending musical whistle, often indicates a bird's presence long before it is seen. They build an open cup nest of bark and leaves, lined with rootlets and soft fibre. The nest is usually placed in a low tree fork. Both birds incubate the eggs and care for the young. It is not timid around humans, perching prominently on the top of bushes or on power lines.
Urban areas, where they inhabit parks, gardens and vegetation along creeks.
Introduced to Australia from southern Asia.
22
Omnivore
Black, Brown, White, Red
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Sericornis (Sericornis) frontalis Sericornis (Sericornis) frontalis
White-browed Scrubwren
Author(s): (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Acanthizidae - Sericornis
White-browed Scrubwren
Small, olive-brown above, red brown below, grey throat, white lines above and below eyes.
A small bird, dark olive-brown above, with a grey throat and dull red-brown flanks, belly and rump. It has white lines above and below the eye. Both sexes are similar, but females are slightly duller, particularly on the face. Subtropical and tropical populations are more yellow underneath, males having an almost black facial mask. Southern coastal populations have dark streaking on the throat. Young birds are similar to the adults, but are generally duller. Body size up to 13 cm.
One Australia's most active birds, constantly foraging amongst the leaf-litter of the forest floor for food. It feeds mostly on insects and other small arthropods. Occasionally, they eat some seeds. Birds feed in pairs among the thick vegetation of the forest floor. The call is an almost persistent harsh chattering of scalding notes, especially when disturbed. It is also an accomplished mimic. The nest consists of a large ball of grasses and other plant material, with a side entrance tunnel leading to a cup lined with feathers. This is normally located on or near the ground in thick vegetation, but may be in a tree fork a few metres high.
Rainforest, open forest, woodland and heaths.
13
Insectivore
Brown, Grey, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Sphecotheres vieilloti Sphecotheres vieilloti
Australasian Figbird
Author(s): Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Oriolidae - Sphecotheres
Australasian Figbird
Olive-green body with a black crown and bare red skin around eyes.
The male has bare, red skin around the eye, a black crown and a grey neck and throat. Its body is olive-green, except for a white under-tail area. The female has grey skin around the eye and lacks distinctive head markings. It is brown-green above and dull-white below, streaked with brown. Both sexes have a blackish bill. Males in the north have a yellow front, in contrast to the completely olive-green birds in the south. Body size up to 29 cm.
Commonly encountered in city parks that contain fig trees, and will often visit orchards and gardens that have leafy trees and berry-producing plants. It feeds in flocks and will eat most soft fruits and berries; insects are also an important part of their diet. It nests in small, semi-colonial groups, with nests often quite close together. The nest is cup-shaped and built of vine tendrils and twigs. It is supported by its rim from the horizontal fork of an outer branch of the canopy, up to 20 m above the ground. Both males and females incubate the eggs and feed the young. Its call is a loud, descending 'chiew'.
Rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests; also urban parks and gardens, particularly those with figs and other fruit-producing trees.
29
Omnivore
Black, Grey, Green, White
Northern and eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Struthidea cinerea cinerea Struthidea cinerea cinerea
Southern Apostlebird
Author(s): Gould, 1837
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Corcoracidae - Struthidea
Southern Apostlebird
Medium-sized, dark grey, short strong black bill, black legs.
A medium-sized dark grey bird with a short black bill, brown wings and a long black tail. Usually seen on the ground. Body size up to 33 cm.
Usually seen in groups of six to ten birds, and is usually seen on the ground. It eats seeds and vegetable matter, insects and other invertebrates, and sometimes small vertebrates. In autumn and winter, it will move to more open country where seeds become the more important part of its diet. Its call is a rough, scratchy, and discordant: 'ch-kew ch-kew'. It forms a 'breeding unit' – a dominant male and several females, plus immature birds that act as helpers. The nest is a large mud bowl, placed on a horizontal branch 3-20 m high, and reinforced and lined with grass. Usually only the adults incubate the eggs, but all members of a group assist with nest building and feeding of nestlings. More than one female may lay eggs in the same nest. While many eggs may be laid, usually only four nestlings will survive to fledge, with numbers possibly restricted by the size of the nest.
Open dry forests and woodlands near water, but may also be found in farmlands with trees, along roadsides, in orchards and on golf courses.
33
Omnivore
Grey, Brown, Black
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Author(s): (Kuhl, 1820)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Psittaciformes - Psittacidae - Trichoglossus
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Medium sized; body, head and upper wings green; red beak and eyes; yellow scales on breast.
A medium-sized parrot with a green body, head and upper wings, with yellow 'scales' on the breast and neck. Its beak and eyes are red. Both sexes appear to be similar. In flight, it has two-tone, red-orange underwings with grey trailing edges. Body size up to 24 cm.
It appears to be sedentary, although numbers in any particular area often fluctuate in response to seasonal flowering of eucalypts. They feed in flocks, on nectar and pollen that they harvest with their brush-tongues, mostly from eucalypts, but also from shrubs such as melaleucas, callistemon and banksias. They also forage on nectar, pollen, fruits and seeds from a range of garden plants. The call is a high-pitched rolling screech. Females lay their eggs on a bed of decayed wood in a hollow limb, or where a branch has broken from the trunk of a eucalypt tree, at a height of between 3 m and 25 m above the ground. Both the male and female modify the nest hollow by chewing off pieces of wood, and this can take six weeks. Only the female incubates the eggs, but the male feeds her on the nest. Both sexes feed the young.
Lowland eucalypt forests and woodlands, but also occurs in heathlands and well-treed urban areas, including parks and gardens.
24
Omnivore
Green, Yellow, Red
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Tyto (Tyto) javanica Tyto javanica
Eastern Barn Owl
Author(s): (Gmelin, 1788)
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Strigiformes - Tytonidae - Tyto
Eastern Barn Owl
Medium sized, white facial disc, orange grey body, white cream underneath.
A medium-sized owl with a white ‘heart-shaped' facial disc. The body is sandy orange and light grey above, and white to cream underneath. Both the back and breast are evenly spotted with black. Young birds are similar to adults in plumage and females are slightly larger than males. Body size up to 39 cm.
It is a moderately common bird, but generally hard to see, as it is nocturnal. During the day, the birds roost in hollow logs, caves or on concealed tree branches, emerging at night to hunt. It feeds mostly on small mammals, rats and mice, and birds, but some insects, frogs and lizards are also eaten. It uses its exceptional hearing to search for prey on the ground. The slightest sound waves are channelled toward the ears, allowing the owl to pinpoint prey even in complete darkness. Barn Owls are the most widespread of the owls, found on every continent in the world except Antarctica. It is generally a quiet bird, with the common call being a 12 second rough, hissing screech. Less frequently, birds give whistling, wheezing notes and some snapping and bill clacking during mating and threat displays.
Open, often arid (dry) country, such as farms, heath and lightly-wooded forest.
39
Carnivore
Grey, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Xanthomyza phrygia Anthochaera (Xanthomyza)
Author(s): Swainson, 1837
Animalia - Chordata - Aves - Passeriformes - Meliphagidae - Anthochaera
Black head, yellow back, black wings with yellow patches.
It has a black head, neck and upper breast, a yellow back and breast scaled black, with the underparts grading into a white rump; black wings with conspicuous yellow patches, and a black tail, edged yellow. The male has yellowish warty bare skin around the eye. The female is smaller, with a bare yellowish patch under the eye only, and has less black on the throat. Body size is up to 23 cm.
Strongly nomadic, following flowering Eucalypts. It feeds mainly on nectar and other plant sugars, but will also feed on insects and spiders, and native and cultivated fruits. It forages in flowers or foliage, but sometimes comes down to the ground to bathe in puddles or pools, and may also hawk for insects on the wing. Its call is quiet and melodious but it can also mimic larger honeyeaters. It is badly affected by land-clearing, with the clearance of nectar-producing trees and the poor health of many remnants, as well as competition for nectar from other honeyeaters. It is listed federally as an endangered species. At the state level, it is listed as endangered in Queensland and New South Wales, while in Victoria it is listed as threatened.
Eucalypt forests and woodlands, particularly in blossoming trees and mistletoe.
23
Omnivore
Black, Yellow, White
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Achoerodus viridis Achoerodus viridis
Eastern Blue Groper
Author(s): (Steindachner, 1866)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Labridae - Achoerodus
Eastern Blue Groper
Thick-bodied fish, distinctive blue colouration, large fleshy lips, pegteeth.
A thick-bodied fish with peg teeth, heavy scales, a large tail and thick lips. Juveniles are brown to green brown. Adult females are brown to reddish-brown. Each scale may have a darker red spot. The adult males are bright blue and have large fleshy lips. The blue can range from deep navy to cobalt blue, and there may also be darker or yellow-orange spots or lines around the eyes. Body size up to 120 cm.
One of the largest and most easily recognised fishes and can live to around 30 years. It is a member of the wrasse family and not a true groper despite its common name. It was intensely-fished prior to 1970, but is now a protected species. Spawning occurs during winter (July-October) and the young recruit primarily into estuarine seagrass beds during winter. As it ages, it passes through several stages. Juveniles are all female; as the fish matures it can change to a male. Once the male develops bright blue colouration, it has reached its terminal phase. Large males are inquisitive and often become tame at frequently dived sites. It is the NSW fish emblem.
Coastal, marine habitats from shallow waters, down to 40 m; juveniles can be found in estuarine seagrass beds.
120
Carnivore
Blue, Brown, Green
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Midwater
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Anoplocapros inermis Anoplocapros inermis
Eastern Smooth Boxfish
Author(s): (Fraser-Brunner, 1935)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Tetraodontiformes - Aracanidae - Anoplocapros
Eastern Smooth Boxfish
Hard body; triangle patterns and brown spots; low bumps and strong ridges.
Hard carapace that is covered with a pattern of triangles and low bumps. Adults have a strong ridge along the dorsal and ventral midlines. Juveniles are nearly spherical. Eyes are high on the head and the dorsal and anal fins positioned posteriorly and opposite each other. Colouration changes with growth; as the fish ages it develops brown spots. Tiny juveniles are completely yellow. Large males are blue with golden sides. Body size up to 35 cm.
A toxin (ostracitoxin) is present in the mucous. In some species this can be secreted when the fish is stressed.
Coastal reefs and harbours from depths of 10 m to 300 m.
35
Omnivore
Yes. Should not be eaten; poisonous toxins are present in the mucous.
Yellow, Brown, Blue
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Midwater
False
Beach walkers often see dried fish while walking along the high tide line.
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Aptychotrema rostrata Aptychotrema rostrata
Eastern Shovelnose Ray
Author(s): (Shaw & Nodder, 1794)
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Rhinobatiformes - Rhinobatidae - Aptychotrema
Eastern Shovelnose Ray
Wedge-shaped disc, long triangular snout, sandy colouration.
Recognised by its wedge-shaped disc, its long triangular snout and its colouration. It is usually sandy-coloured above and may have darker blotches. The lower surface is white with irregular dark flecks. Body size up to 120 cm.
Its diet includes penaeid prawns, carid shrimps, stomatopods, crabs and other crustacea, as well as fishes and molluscs.
Estuaries and on sandy substrates off beaches, but also occurs down to depths of 50 m.
120
Carnivore
Grey, White
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Carcharhinus obscurus Carcharhinus obscurus
Bronze Whaler Sharks
Author(s): (Lesueur, 1818)
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Carcharhiniformes - Carcharhinidae - Carcharhinus
Bronze Whaler Sharks
Long pointed snout, long pectoral fins and a low ridge between the dorsal fins.
Long pointed snout, long pectoral fins and a low ridge between the dorsal fins. The teeth are serrated. Those in the upper jaw are broad and triangular. The lower jaw teeth are more slender. It is grey to grey-brown above and pale below. Fin markings become less distinct as the fish ages. Body size up to 365 cm.
This species makes seasonal migrations. Females move into shallow coastal waters in warmer months to give birth to live young. Litters are produced every two to three years and may contain 3 to 14 pups. It feeds primarily on bony fishes and other sharks, but also eat crustaceans and cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish, and octopus). Matures between 14 and 18 years.
All coastal and continental shelf waters in Australia, and worldwide in tropical and warm temperate waters.
365
Carnivore
Large individuals are potentially dangerous to people, but few attacks have been documented.
Grey
Around Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
True
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Carcharias taurus Carcharias taurus
Greynurse Shark
Author(s): Rafinesque, 1810
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Lamniformes - Odontaspididae - Carcharias
Greynurse Shark
Distinctive dagger-like teeth, grey-brown above and white below.
A distinctive fish with dagger-like teeth that is usually grey-brown on top and a dusky white underneath. Both dorsal fins and the anal fin are of a similar size. Juveniles have reddish or brownish spots on the posterior (back) half of the body and tail. These spots often fade as the shark ages, but are sometimes still visible on adults. Body size up to 360 cm.
It is generally a slow-moving species that is not considered dangerous to people, although it should never be provoked by divers. During the day, individuals are usually found in the vicinity of dropoffs, caves and ledges. It feeds on fishes, which are pierced with the sharp teeth. The teeth are visible when the shark's mouth is closed and are constantly being replaced; each tooth is replaced every eight to fifteen days. After fertilization, the developing young are enclosed in egg cases within each uterus of the female. They hatch from the egg cases and then eat not only unfertilised eggs, but also their siblings. After about nine to twelve months, two young are born, one from each uterus. With its dagger-like teeth and appearances in the media, the Greynurse Shark was feared by beachgoers for many years. Nowadays we know that swimmers have nothing to fear from this species.
Tropical and temperate waters from the surf zone down to 60 m.
360
Carnivore
Grey, Brown
Around Australia: in the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific oceans.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Centroberyx affinis Centroberyx affinis
Redfish
Author(s): (Günther, 1859)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Beryciformes - Berycidae - Centroberyx
Redfish
A moderately deep, compressed body with a large head and large eyes.
Redfish are usually silvery-red with pale spots on the scales forming stripes. They have a moderately deep, compressed body, a large head, large eyes and an oblique mouth that extends back to the posterior margin of the eye. There is a single dorsal fin and an anal fin positioned on the lower margin of the body, opposite the soft rayed portion of the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is deeply forked. Body size up to 51 cm.
It is a schooling species, endemic to Australia. It feeds on zooplankton in the midwaters. There are trawl fisheries for Redfish in New South Wales and eastern Victoria.
Deep coastal and offshore waters; juveniles sometimes enter estuaries.
51
Plankton or particles
Red, Silver
South-eastern Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Midwater
True
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Centropogon australis Centropogon australis
Eastern Fortescue
Author(s): (White, 1790)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Scorpaeniformes - Tetrarogidae - Centropogon
Eastern Fortescue
Brown to white body, dark brown to black bars, two large spines on head.
Brown to white body with dark brown to black bars. It has two large spines on either side of the head that can be projected sideways when the fish is disturbed. Body size up to 14 cm.
Divers often see these fish, sometimes in large numbers, resting motionless on the bottom.
Estuaries and bays to a depth of 30 m.
14
Carnivore
If you do come into contact with the spines, the pain of the sting can be eased by immersion in hot (not scalding!) water.
Brown, Black, White
Eastern Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
Midwater
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Cheilodactylus fuscus Cheilodactylus fuscus
Red Morwong
Author(s): Castelnau, 1879
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Cheilodactylidae - Cheilodactylus
Red Morwong
Red colouration, long thickened pectoral fin rays, large fleshy lips.
Recognised by its colouration and extended and thickened lower pectoral fin rays. Adults are orange-brown to dark brown above and pale below. Small juveniles are silvery with dark bands crossing the upper sides and dorsal fin. Adults have large fleshy lips and a forked caudal fin. There are horn-like bumps in front of the eyes. Body size up to 65 cm.
Commonly seen resting on the bottom, perched on their long thickened pectoral fin rays. Diet consists of worms and other small invertebrates. Prey is filtered through the gills from randomly-taken mouthfuls of sand or matter scraped from the rocks.
Rocky reefs to a depth of 30 m; juveniles live on algae covered reefs.
65
Carnivore
Orange, Brown
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
Midwater
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Chironemus marmoratus Chironemus marmoratus
Eastern Kelpfish
Author(s): Günther, 1860
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Chironemidae - Chironemus
Eastern Kelpfish
Pointed snout, small mouth, body and fins covered in small white spots.
Pointed snout and a small mouth. It has large pectoral fins with branched rays above and thickened unbranched rays below. Grey, brown, green or pinkish with large dark blotches on the body. There are numerous small white spots on the body and fins. Body size up to 40 cm.
Often found in kelp and weed areas. Feeds on invertebrates and small fish.
Shallow marine waters in areas of high wave action or currents between the intertidal zone and a depth of 20 m.
40
Carnivore
Grey, brown, Green, Pink
South-eastern Australia
Marine
Shore (0-1m),Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Cleidopus gloriamaris Cleidopus gloriamaris
Australian Pineapplefish
Author(s): De Vis, 1882
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Beryciformes - Monocentridae - Cleidopus
Australian Pineapplefish
Pineapple-like appearance, robust scales, light organs on sides of lower jaw.
Named for its pineapple-like appearance. It has robust scales with black margins. On either side of the lower jaw is a light organ that produces a greenish glow. The colour of the light is reported to change to red as the fish ages. Body size up to 25 cm.
It feeds at night on small crustaceans. Its prey is detected by light emitted from the light organs on the sides of the lower jaw. Within the light organs, symbiotic bacteria produce a greenish glow. The species is reported to make a creaking sound when disturbed.
Shallow coastal reefs, but is also trawled in deeper offshore waters.
25
Carnivore
Black, Yellow
Eastern and western Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Midwater
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Dicotylichthys punctulatus Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Threebar Porcupinefish
Author(s): Kaup, 1855
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Tetraodontiformes - Diodontidae - Dicotylichthys
Threebar Porcupinefish
Rounded body, covered with spines and a regular pattern of small black spots, and a very broad head.
Rounded body that is covered with spines. The spines on the back are blade-like and fixed in position, but those on the belly and head can be raised. It has a very broad head, with eyes positioned laterally. The teeth are fused to form a single plate in both jaws. It is green to blue-grey above and white below and covered in small black spots. There is a dark bar under the eye, another on the operculum, and a third on the body behind the pectoral fin. Body size up to 43 cm.
Is a solitary and nocturnal fish. It feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates. It is common in NSW and occurs both in estuaries and along the open coast.
Coastal and offshore reefs, often in rocky areas.
43
Carnivore
The flesh is reported to be poisonous, but the spines are not toxic.
Green, Blue, Grey, White
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Epinephelus daemelii Epinephelus daemelii
Black Rockcod
Author(s): (Günther, 1876)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Serranidae - Epinephelus
Black Rockcod
Grey to black in colour with small black spots and bars.
Grey to black in colour and has bars that are dark dorsally but fade ventrally. In larger fish these bars are often faint. It has canine teeth at the front of both jaws and its posterior nostrils are larger than the anterior nostrils. Body size up to 155 cm.
The territorial nature of this fish makes it vulnerable to spearfishing and angling. It is a common New South Wales species but is rarely seen due to its secretive nature; it is usually found hiding in caves and under ledges. Declining numbers resulted in it being declared protected in New South Wales waters in 1984. It is illegal to sell it in NSW.
Coastal and offshore reefs and islands.
155
Carnivore
Black, grey, white
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Girella tricuspidata Girella tricuspidata
Luderick
Author(s): (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Girellidae - Girella
Luderick
Tapering bars on the side of the body, large tail, large eyes and small mouth.
Recognised by its evenly-arched dorsal and ventral profiles, small mouth and eye, large tail, and colour pattern. In marine waters it is bluish-grey, whereas in estuaries it is a darker grey to brown. It has 11 or 12 thin tapering bars on the side of the body, which fade to silvery below. Body size up to 60 cm.
It breeds offshore and the juveniles move into the seagrass beds in estuaries. After a few months, the young fish move back to the sea or to deeper parts of estuaries. It is a very common coastal species and a popular angling species in New South Wales. It feeds mainly on algae, which it grazes off rocks or floating material. It is often seen in large schools and is commonly seen by divers and snorkelers in shallow rocky reef areas.
Coastal and estuarine waters down to a depth of 20 m.
60
Herbivore
Blue, Grey, Brown
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
True
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Gymnothorax cribroris Gymnothorax cribroris
Sieve Moray
Author(s): Whitley, 1932
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Anguilliformes - Muraenidae - Gymnothorax
Sieve Moray
Long slender body, yellow to dark brown with pale irregular spots
Long slender body, varies from yellowish to dark brown, and has pale irregular spots. There are dark blotches behind the eyes. Body size up to 45 cm.
It can be found hiding under objects or in small narrow crevices or caves. It is not an aggressive species, but it does have sharp teeth.
Coastal reefs and estuaries, often in sheltered, silty waters.
45
Carnivore
Brown, yellow, white
Northern and eastern Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Heterodontus galeatus Heterodontus galeatus
Crested Hornshark
Author(s): (Günther, 1870)
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Heterodontiformes - Heterodontidae - Heterodontus
Crested Hornshark
Blunt head, prominent ridge above eyes, grey to brown with large dark blotches.
Blunt head with a prominent ridge above both eyes. It has two tall dorsal fins that are each preceded by a stout spine. It is grey to brown with large dark blotches. Females are larger than males. Body size up to 150 cm.
Its diet consists of echinoderms, crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes. It is an egg-laying species (oviparous). Females lay dark brown spiralled egg cases that are usually seen attached by tendrils to seaweed. Young hatch from the egg case after about eight months at about 22 cm in length. The spine at the leading edge of the dorsal fins of juveniles may be sharp.
Shallow inshore waters, down to depths of around 90 m.
150
Carnivore
Grey, Brown
South-eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Hime purpurissata Latropiscis purpurissatus
Sergeant Baker
Author(s): (Richardson, 1843)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Aulopiformes - Aulopidae - Latropiscis
Sergeant Baker
Long tapering body, large head and blotchy bright red colouration.
Recognised by its long tapering body, large head and blotchy bright red colouration. Adult males and females are easy to tell apart. Several of the anterior rays of the first dorsal fin are greatly elongated in males, nearly reaching the adipose fin. Body size up to 68 cm.
Commonly observed by divers as it perches on the substrate with its head raised. It is thought to be named after Governor Phillip's orderly sergeant, William Baker. Sergeant Baker came to Australia as a Corporal of Marines on the transport ship Charlotte. He was reported to have been a keen fisherman, and possibly the first white settler to have caught this species. An ambush predator that feeds on molluscs, fishes and crustaceans.
Bays and coastal reefs down to depths of 250 m.
68
Carnivore
Red, Orange, purple, green, white
Southern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Hippocampus whitei Hippocampus whitei
White's Seahorse
Author(s): Bleeker, 1855
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Syngnathiformes - Syngnathidae - Hippocampus
White's Seahorse
Elongate bony body, long snout and tail, various shades of brown, grey, white.
Usually very well camouflaged in various shades of brown, grey and black, usually matching its surroundings. It has an elongate, bony body and long snout and tail. Body length up to 20 cm.
Commonly seen holding onto the mesh of swimming enclosures, seagrass fronds or sponges, holding them in place for feeding or for stabilisation during turbulent water conditions. It feeds on mysids (small shrimp-like crustaceans), which it sucks in through the mouth and up the long tube-like snout. The male fertilises the eggs and cares for them for about three weeks (depending upon several factors including the temperature). During this time, he aerates the pouch, and most remarkably of all, nourishes the eggs through a capillary network in the pouch with his own 'placental fluids'. At the end of the 'pregnancy', the male gives birth to 100-250 fully formed young seahorses of about 1 cm in length, which swim away to care for themselves. The male then 'becomes pregnant' again almost straight away.
Shallow temperate waters in seagrass, algae beds and under wharves in depths down to about 25 m.
20
Carnivore
Grey, Brown, Black, White
Southern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Hypnos monopterygius Hypnos monopterygius
Coffin Ray
Author(s): (Shaw & Nodder, 1795)
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Torpediniformes - Hypnidae - Hypnos
Coffin Ray
Shaped like two discs, one large and one small.
Shaped like two discs; the head and pectoral fins form a large disc, while a second smaller disc is formed by the pelvic fins. Located on the second disc are two small dorsal fins, immediately followed by a similar-looking caudal fin. Body size up to 60 cm.
The Coffin Ray can deliver a powerful electric shock with an electric organ located in each pectoral fin. This organ is used to shock crabs, worms and fishes, which make up its diet. To swallow relatively large prey whole, it is able to greatly expand its mouth. When seen by divers it is usually buried in the sediment where a tell-tale rounded depression gives away its presence. The electric organs of the torpedo rays (family Torpedinidae) can deliver strong electric shocks (50 amps, with peak of pulses sometimes exceeding 1 kilowatt).
Sand and mud bottoms in shallow bays and estuaries, but is also known to depths over 200 m.
60
Carnivore
It can deliver a strong electric shock when touched by scuba divers.
Grey, Brown, Black
Eastern, southern and western Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Isurus oxyrinchus Isurus oxyrinchus
Shortfin Mako
Author(s): Rafinesque, 1810
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Lamniformes - Lamnidae - Isurus
Shortfin Mako
A large shark with a pointed snout, a blue body and slender teeth that protrude from the mouth.
Pointed snout and long, slender teeth that protrude from the mouth. The second dorsal and anal fins are small and the caudal fin is lunate (moon-shaped). There is a single keel on the caudal peduncle. The upper surface of the body is indigo blue, abruptly changing to lighter blue on the sides and white below. Body size up to 400 cm.
Believed to be the fastest of all sharks. the Shortfin Mako feeds mainly on bony fishes and cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish), but large individuals over 3 m in length are known to take larger prey such as billfishes and small cetaceans (whales and dolphins). It has a heat exchange circulatory system that enables the body to be warmer than the surrounding water and thus maintain a high level of activity. When hooked, it can make spectacular leaps out of the water. It has been known to attack boats and injure fishers after being hooked.
Tropical and temperate waters.
400
Carnivore
Yes; it has been implicated in both fatal and nonfatal attacks on humans.
Blue, White
Around Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
True
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Microcanthus strigatus Microcanthus strigatus
Stripey
Author(s): (Cuvier, 1831)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Microcanthidae - Microcanthus
Stripey
Easily recognised by its black and yellow stripes and compressed body.
It can be recognised by its deep, compressed body, and distinct pattern of slanting black and yellow to white stripes. Body size up to 16 cm.
Its diet consists of invertebrates and algae. It is seen usually seen in small to large aggregations in caves or under ledges during the day. Juveniles are often found in rock pools. Found in the western pacific and in Hawaii.
Rocky and coral reefs in protected coastal and estuarine waters.
16
Omnivore
Black, Yellow, white
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Mola mola Mola mola
Ocean Sunfish
Author(s): (Linnaeus, 1758)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Tetraodontiformes - Molidae - Mola
Ocean Sunfish
A large, round unusual looking fish with large dorsal fin.
Unusual looking fish lacking a caudal fin. Instead it has a clavus, which is formed by extensions of the dorsal and anal fin rays. These take the place of a true tail fin which does not form. The clavus is broadly rounded and has low, rounded projections (called ossicles) which make up the margin. The teeth in each jaw are fused to form a plate, and the mouth is small in comparison to the body size. Body size up to 330 cm.
These fish are often seen at the surface where they may be mistaken for sharks, because of the large dorsal fin. The genus name <em>Mola</em> comes from the Latin word for millstone and refers to the rounded shape of the fish. It feeds on jellyfish, salps, comb jellies and occasionally small crustaceans and fishes. Sunfishes are amazingly fecund (highly fertile) fishes. A single adult female can produce up to 300 million tiny buoyant eggs. Fertilisation occurs when eggs and sperm are shed into the water. These Sunfish often meet their end by being struck by a ship. In some countries, not Australia, it is a commercial species.
Oceanic waters, but occasionally come inshore.
400
Omnivore
Grey, Brown
Eastern, Southern and Western Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Surface,Midwater
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Monacanthus chinensis Monacanthus chinensis
Fanbelly Leatherjacket
Author(s): (Osbeck, 1765)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Tetraodontiformes - Monacanthidae - Monacanthus
Fanbelly Leatherjacket
A thin fish with brown blotches on its body.
A very thin fish with a large skin flap on the belly, a concave snout profile and a caudal filament. It is cream to brown with brown blotches and mottling on the body, and brown bands on the caudal fin. When swimming above mussel beds, or crinoids, it can assume a dark colouration. Body size up to 40 cm.
Most can be found within 10 metres of the surface. They tend to swim using only their dorsal and anal fins, often with little motion in the rest of the body. This leaves them to be a very slow fish. Its diet consists of seagrass, amphipods, shrimps and algae.
Coastal and estuarine waters in areas of sheltered seagrass beds or protected reefs with heavy marine growth.
40
Omnivore
Brown, White
Northern, eastern and western Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Midwater,On or near seafloor
True
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Notolabrus gymnogenis Notolabrus gymnogenis
Crimsonband Wrasse
Author(s): (Günther, 1862)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Labridae - Notolabrus
Crimsonband Wrasse
Colourful fish. Male has red body band, white cheeks; female has white spots.
It changes colour pattern with growth. Juveniles are a drab green to brown with white spots. Females are red, green or grey with rows of white spots. Males have white cheeks, a red band across the body, red dorsal and anal fins and a white caudal peduncle and tail. Body size up to 40 cm.
It is a carnivore, feeding mostly on benthic (sea floor-dwelling) invertebrates such as amphipods, molluscs and crustaceans. Adult males can be highly territorial and may defend their reef from other males. They share their territory with up to 10 juvenile and female individuals. They are protogynous hermaphrodites; all juveniles are born female and may change into males as they mature. The species name <em>gymnogenis</em> comes from the Greek 'gymnon' meaning bare and 'genys' meaning cheek. This refers to the nearly naked cheeks that have a single row of scales.
Rocky, kelp-covered reefs at depths of 4 m to 40 m.
40
Carnivore
Green, Brown, White, Red, Grey
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
Midwater,On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Orectolobus halei Orectolobus halei
Gulf Wobbegong
Author(s): Whitley, 1940
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Orectolobiformes - Orectolobidae - Orectolobus
Gulf Wobbegong
Bottom-dwelling shark with dark brown blotchy saddles on the body.
It has a brownish upper body with a well-defined, darker brown saddles surrounded by black edges. It has several branched dermal lobes on the head margin. There are two tubercles above the eyes and a white spot behind both spiracles. Body size up to 200 cm.
It is nocturnal; during the day it can be found on the bottom of caves, under ledges on reefs and in trenches. At night it comes out to feed, preying on other sharks, fish and cephalopods (squid, octopuses, cuttlefish). They are known to be site attached and stay in a particular area for a very long time. It has a slow reproductive cycle, taking up to 3 years to complete. Females give birth to up to 45 pups.
Rocky reef areas, offshore islands and bays; bottom-dwelling to a depth of 195 m.
200
Carnivore
The species is not regarded as dangerous unless provoked, but has been implicated in attacks on divers.
Brown, white, black
Eastern and Southern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
True
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Paraplesiops bleekeri Paraplesiops bleekeri
Eastern Blue Devil
Author(s): (Günther, 1861)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Plesiopidae - Paraplesiops
Eastern Blue Devil
Blue and white striped body, blue spotted head and yellow fins.
Recognised by its banded pattern of blue and white stripes on the body, blue spotted head and yellow pectoral and caudal fins. The pelvic fins and posterior dorsal and anal fins are elongate. When spread, these fins overlap, making the fish appear larger. Body size up to 40 cm.
Solitary fish that tend to live alone in caves, crevices and under ledges. They are most active at night. Very little is known about their diet, but they are known to feed on brittle stars. Females lay groups of eggs glued to the underside of caves and ledges. Juveniles are rarely seen. It is protected under New South Wales Fisheries Laws. It may not be speared or collected by any means, or possessed without a permit.
Coastal waters and estuaries in depths from 3 m to 30 m.
40
Blue, Yellow, White
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Parupeneus spilurus Parupeneus spilurus
Blacksaddle Goatfish
Author(s): (Bleeker, 1854)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Mullidae - Parupeneus
Blacksaddle Goatfish
Two dark stripes along the sides of body, large black spot on base of tail fin and two barbels under its mouth.
Recognisable by its colouration and pattern. It has two dark stripes along the sides of the body, and a large black spot on the upper caudal peduncle. Juveniles are more slender than adults. They have the same striped pattern, but are more strongly tinged with yellow. Body size up to 47 cm.
Very little is known about this species. It is usually seen as single individuals or in small schools. It uses the strong barbels under its mouth to sense and dig up small prey in soft sandy areas.
Coastal reefs and estuaries.
47
Carnivore
White, Yellow, Black, Brown
Eastern and Western Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Pataecus fronto Pataecus fronto
Red Indian Fish
Author(s): Richardson, 1844
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Scorpaeniformes - Pataecidae - Pataecus
Red Indian Fish
Red or orange colouration, distinctive body shape, long dorsal fin, well camouflaged.
Compressed body and a long-based dorsal fin. Individuals are often scarlet, brick red or orange. Occasionally they may be pale or have black and/or white spots. They lacks pelvic fins and have no scales. The dorsal fin stretches the entire length of the body, and comprises an elevated spiny section joined with a lower, soft-rayed section. This is in turn is joined to the caudal fin. Body size up to 35 cm.
It is known to periodically shed its skin in one complete piece, ridding the fish of the encrusting algae and bryozoans that grow on the skin. Its colouration and distinctive shape result in it being well camouflaged among sponges. Its common name comes from the long dorsal fin, which resembles the popular image of a native North American chief's headdress. Unlike most fishes, it does not swim off when discovered, but stays motionless. It has an unusual swimming 'style'; if released above the bottom it will twist, fall and spin back to its position on the sponge, resembling a large dead leaf sinking through the water. It eats mainly shrimps and other crustaceans.
Sponge beds, rocky reefs and estuaries in 10 m to 80 m depth.
35
Carnivore
Red, Orange
Eastern and western Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Plotosus lineatus Plotosus lineatus
Striped Catfish
Author(s): (Thunberg, 1787)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Siluriformes - Plotosidae - Plotosus
Striped Catfish
Black body with white stripes, eight barbels around mouth, eel-like body.
Brown to black body with white stripes. Four pairs of barbels around the mouth. Eel-like body shape that tapers to a point posteriorly. Small juveniles are black. Large adults may be less distinctly striped. Body size up to 35 cm.
It eats mainly benthic (sea floor-dwelling) invertebrates such as crustaceans, molluscs, worms and algae, with larger individuals sometimes eating small fishes. Juveniles often form large, ball-like schools of hundreds of individuals that appear to move as one. Adults are usually solitary or form small groups.
Coral and rocky reefs, bays and estuaries in tropical and sub-tropical waters.
35
Carnivore
If handling this species, beware of the spines – they are highly venomous and can inflict a very painful wound. If the spines break off in the wound, they can cause secondary infections.
Black, White, Yellow
Eastern and Western Australia.
Marine
Shore (0-1m),Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Scorpaena cardinalis Scorpaena cardinalis
Cook's Scorpionfish
Author(s): Solander & Richardson, 1842
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Scorpaeniformes - Scorpaenidae - Scorpaena
Cook's Scorpionfish
Bright red colouration with skin flaps on the head and body that help with camouflage.
Bright red colour, but is highly variable, ranging from light grey to bright red with blotches. The chest usually has small dark spots. There are skin flaps on the head, lateral line and other parts of the body. These help to disguise the shape of the fish. Body size up to 40 cm.
It has cryptic colouration, enabling it blend into its surrounds. It is a predatory fish, often lying motionless on the bottom waiting for passing prey of small fishes and invertebrates. Its large mouth allows it to swallow its prey whole so, within reason, the bigger the mouth, the larger the prey item that can be consumed. The bony ridge running below the eye may help to protect the eyes, but its true function remains unclear. It is a relatively long-lived species. It is very common in shallow coastal waters around Sydney and is commonly seen by divers as it lies motionless on the bottom, usually moving only when disturbed.
Marine, estuarine and even fresh waters, often found with sponges and in rocky areas covered with algae.
40
Carnivore
Yes, the dorsal spines are toxic; a sting can be excruciatingly painful. If stung, immerse the affected area in very hot water as this denatures the toxin, and always seek medical attention.
Red, Grey
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shore (0-1m),Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Scorpaenopsis insperatus Scorpaenopsis insperata
Sydney Scorpionfish
Author(s): Motomura, 2004
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Scorpaeniformes - Scorpaenidae - Scorpaenopsis
Sydney Scorpionfish
A small fish with 12 venomous dorsal fin spines and mottled reddish colouration.
A small fish that superficially looks similar to the Red Rockcod. It has 12 venomous dorsal fin spines and mottled reddish colouration. Body size up to 3.8 cm.
Very little is known about this fish. Only two specimens are currently known and both were collected in Chowder Bay, Sydney Harbour, on 24 May 2001. It is rarely encountered, but like other scorpionfishes the dorsal spines are probably venomous.
Course gravelly, sand bottom.
3.8
Unknown
Brown, Grey, Red
Sydney
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Solenostomus cyanopterus Solenostomus cyanopterus
Robust Ghostpipefish
Author(s): Bleeker, 1854
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Syngnathiformes - Solenostomidae - Solenostomus
Robust Ghostpipefish
Highly variable in colour, long snout, hard body plates, very cryptic.
Colouration is highly variable from grey, brown, dark red to bright green with darker spots and markings. It has a long snout and hard body plates. It has 2 dorsal fins and a very short to absent caudal peduncle. It is very cryptic and resembles a drifting piece of seagrass. Body size up to 15 cm.
It may go unnoticed as it drifts in currents resembling a piece of seagrass. When disturbed, it will move into vegetation. It often hangs upside down to feed, feeding on plankton and small crustaceans sucked in through its snout. Females incubate the eggs in a pouch formed by her modified ventral fins. These fins are greatly expanded and united with the abdomen along the upper margin and together below for a brood pouch. After incubation, the eggs are released into the water column and are planktonic, travelling with the currents until they find a suitable habitat.
Coastal bays and estuaries in algae or seagrass beds at a depth of 2 m to 25 m.
15
Carnivore
Grey, Brown, Green, Red, Orange
Northern, Eastern and Western Australia.
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Tetractenos hamiltoni Tetractenos hamiltoni
Common Toadfish
Author(s): (Richardson, 1846)
Animalia - Chordata - Actinopterygii - Tetraodontiformes - Tetraodontidae - Tetractenos
Common Toadfish
Whitish in colour with small brown spots and bars, covered in small prickles, fused teeth form a beak like mouth.
Sandy to whitish colour. It has small brown spots over most of the back and upper sides. The lower sides often have brown bars and blotches. It has small gill slits located just in front of the pectoral fin bases and a distinct skin fold running along the lower sides. Its teeth are fused and form a beak-like structure with a median groove. It is covered with small prickles. Body size up to 13 cm.
It is a schooling species that is often seen buried in sand with only the eyes exposed.
Shallow coastal waters and estuaries.
13
Yes, it is very toxic and should not be eaten; human deaths have resulted from the consumption of toadfishes.
Brown, White
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Trygonoptera testacea Trygonoptera testacea
Common Stingaree
Author(s): Müller & Henle, 1841
Animalia - Chordata - Chondrichthyes - Myliobatiformes - Urolophidae - Trygonoptera
Common Stingaree
Dark brown to grey above and white below; venomous spines on the tail and a leaf-shaped caudal fin.
Dark brown to grey above and white below. It has a small dorsal fin or a narrow ridge of skin in front of one or two strong, venomous spines on the tail, and a leaf-shaped caudal fin. The shape of the caudal fin is one of the characteristics that separates it from the other species. Body size up to 47 cm.
Very little is known about this species. It has a venomous barb in its tail. Its diet consists of worms and decapods found in soft substrates.
Shallow coastal estuaries and reefs.
47
Carnivore
Brown, Grey, White
Eastern Australia
Marine
Shallow (1-30m),Deep (>30m)
On or near seafloor
False
Mark McGrouther / Australian Museum
Adelotus brevis Adelotus brevis
Tusked Frog
Author(s): (Günther, 1863)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Limnodynastidae - Adelotus
Tusked Frog
Olive green to brown; butterfly-shaped patch on back of head; black and red-orange marbling on groin and hind legs.
Olive green to brown in colour, with a butterfly-shaped patch on the back of its head. Skin is rough with ridges and warts. Limbs are usually barred or banded with darker markings. Groin and the edges of its hind legs have black and red-orange marbling. Male’s belly is black with white spots and the female’s is marbled black and white. Fingers and toes have very little webbing. Irises are gold. Body size up to 5 cm.
The Tusked Frog gets its name from the two long, sharp ‘tusks’ or elongated teeth projecting from its lower jaw. The teeth are much longer in the male than in the female. The male use its 'tusks' to defend territory. Its call is similar to a single 'tok' or 'cluck' sound, repeated several times a minute. In spring and summer, the male will call to attract the female while floating in the water, hidden among vegetation or behind rocks and logs. The female lays her eggs in a floating foam nest. The frog is difficult to find as it hides among vegetation and logs beside puddles, streams and ditches.
Beside streams in rainforests, wet Eucalypt forests, grasslands and swamps.
5
Carnivore
Green, Brown, Black, White, Red
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Lechriodus fletcheri Platyplectrum fletcheri
Fletcher's Frog
Author(s): (Boulenger, 1890)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Limnodynastidae - Platyplectrum
Fletcher's Frog
Red-brown to near black with occasional darker markings; arms and legs with dark grey-brown bars.
Red-brown to near black in colour, with occasional darker markings. Arms and legs have dark grey-brown bars. It has a dark stripe starting from behind its eyes and running to its shoulders. Its belly is smooth and white. The skin on its back is generally smooth, except when the male is in breeding condition; his skin becomes rough and sandpapery. Fingers and toes have very little webbing. Irises are brownish-gold. Body length up to 5.4 cm.
This frog is rarely seen except in the summer breeding season. Its call is similar to a purring ‘gar-r-r-up’ sound that is quite distinctive, lasting about a second. The female lays up to 300 eggs in a floating froth nest in ephemeral water.
Rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests with high rainfall, usually close to pools and streams.
5.4
Carnivore
Brown, Grey, Black, Red
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Limnodynastes terraereginae Limnodynastes terraereginae
Northern Banjo Frog
Author(s): Fry, 1915
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Limnodynastidae - Limnodynastes
Northern Banjo Frog
Grey or brown with occasional darker flecks; sides have red-orange or yellow patches; groin and the backs of thighs red.
Grey or brown in colour, with occasional darker flecks and blotches. A creamy yellow or reddish-orange raised stripe runs below its eyes to the bases of its arms with a darker stripe above. Sides have red-orange or yellow patches and a red patch on the upper arms. The belly is granular and white or pale yellow. Its groin and the backs of its thighs have red or scarlet markings. Irises are brownish gold. Body size up to 7.5 cm.
Its call is similar to a short, high-pitched ‘dunk’ or ‘bonk’ sound. Breeding commences about October and continues until May. The male calls while concealed in water or in vegetation on the banks of dams, flooded ditches or similar places. The female lays eggs in a large foam nest attached to emergent vegetation. Usually found near permanent water such as streams, swamps, and dams after rains. Through the day it remains burrowed in the ground and emerges at night to feed.
Forests, woodlands and cleared land.
7.5
Carnivore
Grey, brown, Red, Yellow, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria caerulea Litoria caerulea
Green Tree Frog
Author(s): (White, 1790)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Green Tree Frog
Dark olive to bright green, sometimes with a scattering of white spots or flecks; white belly.
Dark olive to bright green in colour, but can change depending on the temperature, humidity and lighting. Its sides, and sometimes its back, have a scattering of white spots or flecks. The belly is white. Irises are golden and pupils are horizontal. Fingers are partially webbed. Toes are webbed and toe discs are large. Body size up to 12 cm.
This frog is often found after dark sitting beneath outdoor lights to catch insects, but it is also capable of taking larger prey on the ground, including mice. It has also been recorded catching bats around cave entrances. The oldest recorded captive frog died at 23 years of age. It is highly adaptable, often found in urban backyards, letterboxes, toilets and even bathrooms. Its call is similar to a 'crawk...crawk....crawk' sound. Breeding occurs from November to February and the male can usually be heard calling near water or even down pipes. The female lays up to 2000 eggs floating on the surface of still water. It is one of the largest and most widespread frogs in Australia.
Dry forests, woodlands and grasslands near streams, swamps or urban backyards.
12
Carnivore
Green, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria chloris Litoria chloris
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Author(s): (Boulenger, 1893)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Usually bright green to dark moss green; backs of thighs purple-red to brown; belly yellow or white.
Usually bright green to dark moss green in colour. The backs of its thighs are purple-red to brown, often with an iridescent tinge. The belly is granular and white or yellow and its upper arms, hands and feet are yellow. Its irises are golden red or golden orange. Both its fingers and toes are webbed and its toe discs are large. Body size up to 7 cm.
Spends much of its time high in the foliage of trees, coming down only to breed in ground pools after heavy rain. Has also been found in urban areas, breeding in neglected swimming pools. Its call is a long moan sound, followed by a soft trill. At close range these frog choruses can be very loud. Breeding usually occurs during the summer months, October to February. Males gather around temporary pools or beside streams following heavy rain and call together. The female lays eggs singularly or in small clumps in streamside or poolside vegetation. Despite its prominent red eyes and bright green back, this frog is seen less often than its relative, the Green Tree Frog, <em>Litoria caerulea</em>.
Rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests.
7
Carnivore
Green, yellow, Purple, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria dentata Litoria dentata
Bleating Tree Frog
Author(s): (Keferstein, 1868)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Bleating Tree Frog
Cream-brown to light grey-brown, with a broad, dark brown band on its back; groin, armpits and the backs of its thighs are frequently yellow.
Cream-brown to light grey-brown or even red-brown in colour, with a broad, dark brown band on its back. A dark stripe runs through the eyes and eardrums and down its sides. Groin, armpits and the backs of its thighs are frequently yellow, particularly in the male. Its belly is granular and yellow-white. The upper halves of its irises are red. The skin on its back is smooth. Body length up to 4.5 cm.
Can be very difficult to find, but when discovered is usually hiding under rocks or loose bark. Sometimes found in urban areas, but it is rarely recognised as a frog by its call. Its call is more like a cicada than a frog – a very loud, high-pitched bleating. It breeds in late spring and summer. The male calls from the ground close to water. Its high-pitched screech is usually heard after heavy rain. The female lays small rafts of eggs among vegetation in temporary pools or mostly still water. The eggs hatch quickly into tadpoles that must metamorphose into frogs before the pools dry out.
Coastal lagoons, ponds and swamps, especially Melaleuca swamps, as well as wet forests, woodlands and heath.
4.5
Carnivore
Brown, Grey, Red, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria fallax Litoria fallax
Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
Author(s): (Peters, 1880)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
Usually all green, backs of thighs and groin orange to yellow-white.
A small slender frog, usually all green, but can be green with fawn legs or all fawn. A white stripe runs underneath the eyes. The backs of its thighs and groin are orange to yellow-white. The skin on its back is smooth and its belly is granular. Its irises are golden and its pupils are horizontal. Its toes are partially webbed and its toe discs are large. Body size up to 2.5 cm.
Can be found sheltering and spending much of its time in the vegetation, occasionally lunging out to catch mosquitoes and other flying insects. Its call is similar to 'Reek...pip, reek...pip...pip'. The male calls from vegetation both day and night in warmer weather. You are more likely to hear the frog than see it. Visit any wetland around Sydney, particularly from October to April, and you will probably hear the male calling for a mate. Breeding occurs from spring to summer, usually after rain. The female lays approximately 250 eggs on submerged stems.
Coastal wetlands, swamps, dams and streams, and can also be found in urban areas.
2.5
Carnivore
Green, Orange, Yellow, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria gracilenta Litoria gracilenta
Dainty Green Tree Frog
Author(s): (Peters, 1869)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Dainty Green Tree Frog
Bright leaf-green to pea-green; upper arms and thighs bright yellow; hind edges of thighs purple-brown.
Varies in colour from bright leaf-green to pea-green. It has a pale yellow stripe running from the snout, over its eyes to the eardrums. Its upper arms, fingers, toes and thighs are bright yellow, while the hind edges of its thighs are purple-brown, often with an iridescent sheen. Its belly is granular and cream to yellow. Its irises are yellow-orange and its pupils are horizontal. Body size up to 4.5 cm.
During winter, it shelters in the crown of trees away from water sources. It occasionally appears in Sydney, usually in fruit shops where it arrives in banana bunches brought from Queensland and northern New South Wales, hence its other common name: the 'Banana Frog'. Its call is similar to a drawn-out ‘waaa’ or ‘weee’ sound. It breeds in spring and summer in ephemeral water. The female lays her eggs attached to the stems of grass in ponds.
Dense vegetation and reeds associated with marshes, lagoons, moist forests, dry sclerophyll forests and even fruit plantations.
4.5
Carnivore
Green, Yellow, purple, brown
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria jervisiensis Litoria jervisiensis
Jervis Bay Tree Frog
Author(s): (Duméril & Bibron, 1841)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Jervis Bay Tree Frog
Grey-brown to dark brown with variable darker flecks and spots; armpits are yellow; groin and the hind edges of its thighs are orange to red.
Grey-brown to dark brown in colour, with variable darker flecks and spots. It has a dark broad patch running down its back. A dark stripe runs from its snout, through its eyes and eardrums to the base of its arms, and a white stripe runs under its eyes. Its armpits are yellow; its groin and the hind edges of its thighs are orange to red. Its belly is finely granular and creamy yellow. Irises are gold. Body length up to 6cm.
This frog’s call consists of two or three high pitched squeals. Breeding occurs in spring and summer. The male calls from close to the water's edge or hidden in nearby vegetation. During spawning, the female lays her eggs in small clusters attached to submerged sticks and reeds. The tadpoles take about 12 weeks to metamorphose.
Eucalypt forests, heath, woodlands and coastal lowlands.
6
Carnivore
Brown, Grey, Yellow, Orange, Red
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria nasuta Litoria nasuta
Rocket Frog
Author(s): (Gray, 1842)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Rocket Frog
Yellow brown to red brown with dark blotches on the sides of its body; eyes and eardrums ringed in white; thighs yellow and black.
Yellow brown to red brown in colour. It has a dark stripe running through its eye and eardrum that breaks up into blotches on the sides of its body. Eyes and eardrums are ringed in white. Thighs are yellow and dark-brown or black. Its belly is granular and white. Irises are brown lower, gold upper. It has a pointed snout, a streamlined body and extremely long legs. Body size up to 5 cm.
Its call is similar to a rapid ‘yapping’ or ‘wik...wik...wik' sound. Breeding occurs in spring and summer in ephemeral water. The male can be heard calling after spring and summer rains. The female lays up to 100 eggs in a raft on the surface of still water, where they float in a coat of jelly-like material before the tadpoles hatch into the water. Its long legs enable it to leap further than most other frogs of the same size. Leaps of over four metres are not uncommon. This frog forages among leaf litter, rocks and in open ground.
Open forests, woodlands and Melaleuca swamps, usually close to streams, ponds, lakes and water-covered grassy areas.
5
Carnivore
Brown, Grey, Yellow, Black, White
Northern and eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria peronii Litoria peronii
Peron's Tree Frog
Author(s): (Tschudi, 1838)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Peron's Tree Frog
Pale green-grey to a red-brown; thighs, groin and armpits with black and bright yellow markings.
It has the ability to quickly change colour, ranging from a pale green-grey to a red-brown, and has tiny emerald-green flecks on its back. Thighs, groin and armpits have black and bright yellow markings. Its belly is granular and white or cream. It has cross-shaped pupils and silver irises. Body size up to 6.5 cm.
On the coast, this frog is found in trees and streamside vegetation. Outside of the breeding season, it is usually found in tree canopies. Its call is similar to a drilling sound, which has also been described as a slow, descending 'maniacal cackle'. It breeds in temporary pools, dams and ditches and sometimes tries to breed in suburban fish ponds. The male calls from the ground or in vegetation near water from spring to summer. The female lays its eggs in still water. It can be seen in urban areas and often calls during the day from cavities like drain pipes.
Most forest habitats, but will also forage open grassland and other open areas.
6.5
Carnivore
Grey, Green, Brown, Yellow, Black
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Litoria phyllochroa Litoria phyllochroa
Leaf-green Tree Frog
Author(s): (Günther, 1863)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Pelodryadidae - Litoria
Leaf-green Tree Frog
Light green to dark olive green with a pale yellow or gold stripe running down its sides; armpits, groin and the backs of its thighs are dark red.
Light green to dark olive green in colour, but can change rapidly to match its surrounding environment. It has a pale yellow or gold stripe running down its sides from behind its eyes, underlined with a black or brown stripe. The armpits, groin and the backs of its thighs are dark red. Its belly is granular and white with occasional darker flecks. The skin on its back is smooth. Irises are gold. Body length up to 4 cm.
Its call is similar to an ‘erk...erk...erk’ sound. Breeding occurs from October to March. The male can be heard calling from the ground near water or hidden in waterside vegetation. The female lays her eggs in clumps on submerged vegetation in streams and ponds. It can sometimes be seen sitting on the leaves of creekside shrubs during the day. It is seldom found in still water. This frog is very similar to the Southern Leaf Green Tree Frog, <em>Litoria nudidigita</em>; its distribution and call are used to distinguish the two.
Waterside vegetation lining rocky streams, swamps and mountain streams.
4
Carnivore
Green, Red, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Mixophyes fasciolatus Mixophyes fasciolatus
Great Barred Frog
Author(s): Günther, 1864
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Myobatrachidae - Mixophyes
Great Barred Frog
Yellow-grey to dark brown with darker spots or mottling; legs barred; white or pale yellow belly.
A large, long-legged frog. Ranging from yellow-grey to dark brown in colour, with darker spots or mottling. Its legs are barred. A thin, dark stripe runs from its snout through its eyes to above its eardrums. Its belly is smooth and white or pale yellow. Its irises are uniform dark brown and its pupil is vertical. The female is usually darker than the male. Body size up to 11 cm.
This frog can be found in disturbed areas and farmlands. It digs down into leaf litter during the day and emerges at night. It ambushes large invertebrates in the surrounding vegetation. Its call is similar to a deep, harsh guttural ‘waark’ sound. The male can be heard calling for females with a deep, guttural grunt from its hiding place in leaf litter. The mating pair enters the water, and the female flicks the fertilised eggs onto the stream bank where the first developmental stages are completed out of reach of aquatic predators. The tadpoles are then washed into the creek by the first heavy rains. Breeding appears to occur in late spring or early summer.
Rainforests, wet sclerophyll forests and woodlands, including Antarctic Beech forests near running streams.
11
Carnivore
Grey, Brown, Yellow, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Notaden bennettii Notaden bennettii
Crucifix Frog
Author(s): Günther, 1873
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Limnodynastidae - Notaden
Crucifix Frog
Olive, yellow or green with distinctive black, red, white and yellow cross-shaped pattern on its back, warty skin, round body and short limbs.
Medium-sized frog with a round body and relatively short limbs and large eyes. Olive, yellow or green in colour with a distinctive black, red, white and yellow cross-shaped pattern on its back. The skin on its back is warty and its belly is smooth. Its toes are partially webbed. Irises are gold. Body size up to 7 cm.
It buries itself into the mud and will remain there for many months or even years until heavy rains. Its call is similar to a drawn-out, owl-like 'Whoooooooo' sound. It only breeds after heavy rain. The male calls for the female while floating, spread-eagled, in temporary pools. Tadpoles have the ability to develop quickly before the temporary pools of water evaporate.
Black soil plains, floodplains, clay pans and semi-arid grasslands.
7
Carnivore
Green, Yellow, Black, Red, White
Central eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Platyplectrum ornatum Platyplectrum ornatum
Ornate Burrowing Frog
Author(s): (Gray, 1842)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Limnodynastidae - Platyplectrum
Ornate Burrowing Frog
Dark grey or brown to pale grey, with irregular darker blotches, limbs barred or spotted; belly is white.
Dark grey or brown to pale grey, with irregular darker blotches. It often has a lighter, butterfly-shaped patch on its back, behind its eyes. Some individuals have a pale yellow stripe running down the middle of their backs. Limbs are barred or spotted with the same dark colouration. Its back has a scattering of small warts and its belly is smooth and white. Irises are brownish gold. Body size up to 4.5 cm.
Often discovered along dry sandy watercourses some distance from permanent water. During the day this frog burrows beneath the surface and may spend the dry season in a dormant state well underground. Its call is similar to a rapidly repeated gulping ‘unk..unk..unk’ sound. Breeding occurs from November to March after heavy rain in shallow ephemeral waters. The male calls while floating freely in the water, which may only be a small puddle. The female lays up to 1000 eggs in a foam nest that collapses after a few hours to form a floating layer. The female may breed more than once each season.
Dry coastal and inland areas including woodlands, grasslands, savannahs and in wet sclerophyll forests.
4.5
Carnivore
Grey, Brown, White
Northern and eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Pseudophryne australis Pseudophryne australis
Red-crowned Toadlet
Author(s): (Gray, 1835)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Myobatrachidae - Pseudophryne
Red-crowned Toadlet
Dark grey to brown with a bright orange-red triangle or 'T' shape on head; orange-red stripe on its lower back; belly marbled black and white.
Dark grey to brown with a bright orange-red triangle or 'T' shape on its head and a stripe on its lower back of the same colour. Its belly has a striking, marbled, black and white pattern. The bases of its arms are white. Its skin is rough looking on its back and its belly is smooth. Its toes are unwebbed. Irises are brownish gold. Body size up to 3 cm.
Its call is similar to a grating ‘ark’ or ‘squelch’ sound. Several calls come in quick succession, as these frogs commonly live in small colonies and answer each other. It can be heard all year round and is often found in colonies of 20-30 individuals. It breeds from spring to summer and is a terrestrial egg-layer. The female lays up to 20 large eggs in damp leaf litter and the male usually stays close to the developing eggs, but this is probably to defend the breeding site rather than the eggs. Rainfall washes the tadpoles into ephemeral pools where they continue development.
Sandstone crevices and other damp areas in forests, woodlands and heaths in the Sydney region, particularly Hawkesbury Sandstone habitats.
3
Carnivore
Brown, Black, Grey, Orange
Sydney
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Rhinella marina Rhinella marina
Cane Toad
Author(s): (Linnaeus, 1758)
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Bufonidae - Rhinella
Cane Toad
Grey, yellow, olive-brown or red-brown with dry, rough, bumpy skin and large swellings on each shoulder behind the eardrum.
A large and heavily-built frog with dry, rough, bumpy skin. Grey, yellow, olive-brown or red-brown in colour; belly is pale with dark mottling. Hind feet have leathery webbing between the toes and hands are unwebbed. Adults have large swellings (the paratoid glands) on each shoulder behind the eardrum. The male is smaller and wartier than the female. Body Size up to 25 cm.
The Cane Toad can be distinguished from some native Australian frogs by its pupil shape and orientation, large paratoid glands and relatively big size. It sits upright and moves in short, rapid hops. Its call is similar to a 'purring' sound or a high-pitched dial-tone on a telephone. It can breed in most still or slow-flowing water, and tolerate salinity levels up to 15%. The female lays 8000 to 35000 eggs at a time and may produce two clutches a year. The eggs hatch within 24-72 hours. Cane Toads can grow very quickly and may reach sexual maturity within one year.
Open clearings in urban areas and in grassland, woodland, sand dunes, coastal heath, to the margins of rainforest and mangroves.
Introduced pest.
25
Carnivore
Grey, brown, Yellow
Northern and eastern Australia.
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Uperoleia tyleri Uperoleia tyleri
Tyler's Toadlet
Author(s): Davies & Littlejohn, 1986
Animalia - Chordata - Amphibia - Anura - Myobatrachidae - Uperoleia
Tyler's Toadlet
Dark mottled brown skin with orange or yellow spots, belly blue-black with white spots, prominent parotoid glands.
Dark mottled brown skin on its back with orange or yellow spots. Its belly is smooth and blue-black with white spots. Its groin and thigh patches are yellow. The skin on its back is rough. Its toes are unwebbed but have a slight fringe. Irises are brownish gold. It has prominent parotoid glands (large swellings behind the eyes). Body size up to 3.5 cm.
This frog is usually found close to water, but can be seen in dry areas that flood in winter and spring. Its call is a single, short ‘squelch’ sound. During the breeding season from September to January, males can be heard calling from the ground close to the water’s edge or in shallow water.
Dry forests and shrubland in open and disturbed areas.
3.5
Carnivore
Brown, Orange, Yellow, Black, White
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial,Freshwater
False
Louise Carter / Australian Museum
Anomalopus mackayi Anomalopus mackayi
Five-clawed Worm-skink
Author(s): Greer & Cogger, 1985
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Anomalopus
Five-clawed Worm-skink
An elongate-bodied skink with smooth scales, very short limbs and a long tail similar in diameter to the body.
Dark brown above and on the sides; yellow-green below. Skinks in the north of the range have a darker spot in the centre of each scale. There are three digits on the front limbs and two digits on the hind limbs. Body length up to 12.3 cm.
Usually found under timber, leaf litter and other debris but can also be found in rotting tree base cavities, logs and tussock bases. Very little is known about its biology and diet. It is listed as an endangered species in NSW and Qld.
Open woodland with moist black soil, scattered eucalypts and cropped grass cover.
12.3
Insectivore
Brown
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Crepuscular, rarely likely to be encountered on the surface.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Ctenotus taeniolatus Ctenotus taeniolatus
Copper-tailed Skink
Author(s): (White, 1790)
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Ctenotus
Copper-tailed Skink
A small species of skink with long limbs and tail, and a colour pattern of light and dark stripes down the body.
Brown above with a black vertebral stripe that is pale edged, and a narrow pale dorsolateral stripe that is dark edged. Side of body black with bold white mid-lateral and lower lateral stripes. Tail often with orange or red flush. Top of head a complex pattern of pale streaks. Body length up to 7.7 cm.
Active on the surface by day. Uses both sit-and-wait and active foraging strategies to capture prey. Diet consists mainly of small invertebrates such as butterfly and beetle larvae, grasshoppers and ants. Often shelters in burrows under rock slabs on sandy soil. Mating occurs in spring, with females laying a single clutch of between 1-7 eggs in summer.
Woodland, coastal and sandstone heathlands.
7.7
Insectivore
Brown, Black, Orange, Red, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
By day, when there is sufficient sunlight and warmth for foraging activity.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Cyclodomorphus michaeli Cyclodomorphus michaeli
Mainland She-oak Skink
Author(s): Wells & Wellington, 1984
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Cyclodomorphus
Mainland She-oak Skink
An elongate-bodied skink with smooth scales, short limbs and a very long tail.
Olive-green to olive-brown above, sometimes with a reddish tinge. Usually no body pattern but some scales may be edged darker, forming vague narrow stripes. Scales on the sides and tail have black and white edges, forming bands. Underneath is yellow to orange with many black-edged scales. Juveniles have a prominent black band on the nape with a vertical black bar through the eye. Body length up to 17.4 cm.
Usually active early morning or evening, sheltering under leaf litter, logs and natural or man-made debris during the day. Sometimes seen basking in the sun close to dense cover.
Sandy coastal heaths, grasslands, dry and wet forest and rainforest edges.
17.4
Insectivore
Usually harmless, but can bite.
Green, Brown
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Crepuscular, rarely likely to be encountered on the surface but may be encountered basking in the sun.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Egernia cunninghami Egernia cunninghami
Cunningham's Skink
Author(s): (Gray, 1832)
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Egernia
Cunningham's Skink
A large, robust skink with a moderately long tail. Scales on the neck, back and sides of the body are spiny, stronger and more pointed on the tail.
Colour and pattern can vary across its range. In the Sydney region it is reddish brown with dark brown bars or patches across the body. On the southern tablelands it is predominately brown with scattered lighter and darker makings. On the northern tablelands it is dark brown to black above with dark brown bars or patches across the body. Body length up to 25 cm.
It lives in large social groups making it easier to spot danger. When threatened it will take cover in a hollow log, under bark or between rocks. If harassed further it will inhale air, making its body swell up – this increased size, combined with the spiky keeled scales, makes it difficult for a predator to dislodge the lizard from its hiding place. It feeds on a variety of invertebrates such as insects, snails and slugs, as well as vegetation such as fruit and leaves. Females produce litters of 1 to 11 live young.
Forests and open woodlands usually in areas with rock outcrops.
25
Omnivore
Brown, Black, Red
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Seen by day basking on rocks and logs, but usually retreats when approached.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Eulamprus leuraensis Eulamprus leuraensis
Blue Mountains Swamp-skink
Author(s): Wells & Wellington, 1984
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Eulamprus
Blue Mountains Swamp-skink
Moderately small skink, long tail, dark overall colouration dominated by golden stripes on the back and pale spots on the side of the body.
Dark brown to black above with four narrow golden to white striped that may be broken. The sides are dark brown to black with numerous pale flecks. Face with a pale stripe running from the lips to below the ear, and a short pale stripe above the ear. The under-surface is bright yellow. Body length up to 7.2 cm.
Active on warm sunny days from September to late April. When disturbed it takes shelter in dense grass tussocks or down holes. It feeds on insects such as grasshoppers, flies, moths and wasps. Females give birth to live young in late December. Other parts of its biology and ecology are poorly understood. Currently listed as Endangered in NSW.
Wet heath and hanging swamps.
7.2
Insectivore
Black, Brown, Yellow, White
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Active on the surface, basking on or at the edge of grass tussocks, from September to late April.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Hypsilurus spinipes Lophosaurus spinipes
Southern Angle-headed Dragon
Author(s): (Duméril & Duméril, 1851)
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Agamidae - Lophosaurus
Southern Angle-headed Dragon
Medium-sized dragon with a laterally-compressed body, pronounced crest on the nape of the neck with a few large spines, and enlarged keeled scales along the body.
Grey-brown to dark brown. Males tend to be uniform in colour; females have a mosaic pattern of browns and greens. Darker, transverse bars may also be present. Under surface is light brown. Body length to tail up to 35 cm.
Arboreal and diurnal, usually observed perching on upright trunks of trees, or on the ground, often where light penetrates to the forest floor, such as the edges of roads and creeks. Cryptic, slow moving and well camouflaged. Sometimes encountered basking in sunlight after rain. The diet includes insects and other arthropods, such as spiders and centipedes. Females lay between two and seven eggs in shallow nests in rainforest clearings, including road edges and walking tracks. There is some evidence that they will occasionally lay communal nests. The eggs are vulnerable to predation, particularly by goannas.
Low-elevation rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest.
35
Insectivore
Grey, Brown, Green
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Usually observed by day perching on upright trunks of trees, or on the ground, often where light penetrates to the forest floor, such as the edges of roads and creeks.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Lerista punctatovittata Lerista punctatovittata
Eastern Robust Slider
Author(s): (Günther, 1867)
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Lerista
Eastern Robust Slider
Small elongate skink; a long tail as thick as the body; short limbs with very short toes; fawn to brown with dark spots down body and tail.
A small elongate skink, a long tail as thick as the body, short limbs with very short toes, and smooth scales. Fawn to brown above and at sides. Dark spots down body and tail. Under-surface white or pale yellow; dark markings on tails. Forelimb with one or two digits; hindlimb with two digits. Body length up to 10.5 cm.
Burrows in loose soil under logs, debris and rocks. Rarely encountered on the surface. Can be found in a range of habitats.
Dry forest, open woodland, mallee and mulga scrubs.
10.5
Insectivore
Brown
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Crepuscular, rarely likely to be encountered on the surface.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Oedura tryoni Oedura tryoni
Southern Spotted Velvet Gecko
Author(s): De Vis, 1884
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Diplodactylidae - Oedura
Southern Spotted Velvet Gecko
Reddish to chocolate brown above with numerous cream- or yellow-centred, dark-edged small spots.
Reddish to chocolate brown above with numerous cream- or yellow-centred, dark-edged small blotches, which sometimes merge to form bars or reticulations. The under surface is whitish. Juvenile specimens are chocolate brown in colour with small, bright yellow or white spots. Body length up to 9.8 cm.
A terrestrial species that is often found in small colonies beneath granite exfoliations, and occasionally under the bark of dead standing trees. Active during the night. Prey on insects and spiders.
Granite rock outcrops and ranges in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland.
9.8
Carnivore
Red, Brown, Yellow, White
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
At night.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Phyllurus platurus Phyllurus platurus
Broad-tailed Gecko
Author(s): (White, 1790)
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Carphodactylidae - Phyllurus
Broad-tailed Gecko
A moderately-large gecko; flat body; broad flat tail tapering to a point; brown to grey with a mottled pattern.
A moderately-large gecko with a flat body and a broad flat tail tapering to a point. Brown to grey with a mottled pattern that resembles the habitat where it lives. It has rough, scaly skin. Females tend to be larger than males. Body length up to 9.9 cm.
Broad-tailed Geckos are nocturnal; they come out at night to feed on insects and spiders. During the day, they shelter in crevices, and under rocks, where sandstone escarpment is present. They still occur in areas of urban Sydney and can be found sheltering under bricks, in sheds, in woodpiles and in garages. If threatened or attacked, a Broad-tailed Geckos can discard its tail so it can escape to safety. It will re-grow another tail similar in shape and size. Females usually lay two eggs in a crevice; after eight to ten weeks the young hatch and have to fend for themselves. It is one of the larger Australian geckos.
Coastal sandstone woodland and heath where sandstone escarpment is present, including urban areas.
9.9
Insectivore
Brown, Grey
Eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Foraging on vertical rock surfaces or the walls of houses in urban areas with naturally occurring sandstone outcrops.
At night.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Saiphos equalis Saiphos equalis
Three-toed Skink
Author(s): (Gray, 1825)
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Saiphos
Three-toed Skink
Small elongate skink, grey-brown to dark brown above with a glossy sheen.
Grey-brown to dark brown above with a glossy sheen, sometimes with darker spots. Sides are darker, brown to black. Under-surface yellow to orange. A long tail as thick as the body and short limbs with only three very short toes. Body length up to 8.5 cm.
Burrows, usually under logs or rocks in soil or in litter piles. Common in coastal areas of eastern Australia. In urban areas they are often found in compost heaps and in the garden. When disturbed they can look like a snake, because they thrash about with their legs out of sight, trying to burrow to safety. This is one of only three reptile species in the world that are known to display geographic variation in reproductive mode. Different populations are: oviparous (egg-laying) with long (15-day) incubation periods; or oviparous with short (5-day) incubation periods; or viviparous (live-bearing; 0-day incubation periods).
Moist forests and coastal forested habitats, and urban areas.
8.5
Insectivore
Grey, brown, Black, Yellow, Orange
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Crepuscular, rarely likely to be encountered on the surface.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Saproscincus mustelinus Saproscincus mustelinus
Weasel Skink
Author(s): (O'Shaughnessy, 1874)
Animalia - Chordata - Reptilia - Squamata - Scincidae - Saproscincus
Weasel Skink
A moderately small skink with a long tail and a colour pattern featuring a pale spot behind the eye and reddish stripes above the base of the tail.
Light brown to golden above, with scattered paler flecks. Lateral surface (sides) similar, but with a distinctive cream-white spot at the corner of the eye and an orange-red dorsolateral hip-stripe that runs above the hind limbs to the base of tail and continues over much of its upper surface. Underneath white with yellowish flush to abdomen. Body size up to 6.5 cm.
Surface active; usually only seen amongst leaf litter or ground debris at dusk or shortly after dark on warm nights. It feeds on small invertebrates. Females lay up to four eggs per clutch, sometimes in a communal nest containing the eggs of numerous females.
Moist forests and often in suburban gardens.
6.5
Insectivore
Brown, Orange
South-eastern Australia
Terrestrial
False
Active on the ground at dusk or shortly after dark on warm nights.
Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
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