Diario del proyecto Australasian Fishes

On December 28, 2023, marine photographer Matt Dowse captured an incredible image of a Cocktail Wrasse Pteragogus flagellifer, far south of its recognized range. This tropical fish occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region including along Australia’s East Coast from Cape York (11°56'S) to Southport (27°56'S) in Queensland. 'Matt's fish' was observed in Swansea Channel (33°05'S), New South Wales, approximately 370 km south of Southport.

Reflecting on the encounter, Matt stated:
"When I first encountered the Cocktail Wrasse at Swansea Channel, I immediately recognized it as something I hadn’t seen before. Since my initial photo on December 27, 2023, wasn’t clear, I returned the next day to capture a better image for identification. I found the wrasse in a similar spot as the previous day, on the southeastern side of the channel near the entrance to Black Ned’s Bay, in about 5-6 meters of water. The weather was sunny and warm, with typical Swansea visibility around 5-6 meters."

This sighting not only sparks interest within the marine biology community but also raises questions about potential shifts in marine species' distributions, which are happening frequently. See the last two journal posts (An Unexpected Encounter: Clown Triggerfish Photographed at Dalmeny and Seawhip Goby - a new record for LHI Marine Park).

The Cocktail Wrasse grows to about 20 cm in length. It is known for the membranes of the dorsal fin spines, which are elongated to filaments. These filaments are very long in males.

Matt Dowse’s dedication and sharp eye have added a valuable data point to the ongoing study of marine life, showcasing how passion for the ocean can contribute to scientific knowledge. As climate patterns change and ocean conditions shift, sightings like this offer a window into the evolving dynamics of marine ecosystems. This discovery is a reminder of the wonders awaiting just below the surface and the importance of documenting these rare moments.

On June 16, 2010, while diving at Ribbon Reef #3 near Port Douglas, northern Queensland, Dr Malcolm Francis, @malcolm_francis, made what initially seemed like a routine observation. He photographed what he believed to be a school of common Bluestriped Snapper, Lutjanus kasmira, a species familiar to divers across Australia. When he uploaded the observation to iNaturalist as L. kasmira, everyone assumed it was just that—another L. kasmira observation.

However, as Malcolm explained "The story took an unexpected turn when I uploaded some Lutjanus photos from a trip to the Seychelles. Not being familiar with the local species there, I was careful when identifying the fish, and in doing so, I realised that the fish I photographed in the Seychelles were actually Lutjanus bengalensis not L. kasmira. Curious, I went back to compare those Seychelles photos with my previous Australian L. kasmira observation—and to my surprise, there were no differences. They were the same species!"

He quickly corrected the observation on iNaturalist, updating it to Lutjanus bengalensis. The ID was confirmed by several people, including iNaturalist curator Mark Rosenstein, @maractwin, who commented, “L. bengalensis is often overlooked because of its similarity to the more common L. kasmira. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s there but seldom noticed.”

This discovery highlights how easily these two species can be confused, especially given their subtle differences. For example, L. bengalensis can be distinguished from L. kasmira by the absence of a fifth line under the eye and no thin yellow stripes on the belly. Check out this comparison guide.

This observation serves as a reminder to always take a second look—what may seem ordinary at first could turn out to be something entirely different. In this case it's a new record for Australia! Well done Malcolm!