Common Name: Eastern Talma

Distribution: Relatively common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Endemic to Australia, on the east coast from southern Queensland to Jervis Bay in New South Wales.

Ecological Notes: Protected rocky reef areas with algal habitat. Depth to 70 m.

Additional Notes: Silvery triangular body with five dark stripes, the first through the eye, the last on the caudal peduncle. Adults usually seen in pairs, juveniles singly. Juveniles also have large ocelli at rear corner of dorsal fin, see lower photograph. Feed on algae and small invertebrates. Grows to 22 cm.

References: Kuiter, R. H., Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Published by Crawford House Press Pty. Ltd., 1993. p.218.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://fishbase.ca/summary/Chelmonops-truncatus.html. Accessed 11/05/18.