(Image credit: Rick Stuart-Smith, Reef Life Survey)

Pointed snout with a small mouth. Juveniles have broad longitudinal stripes along the body that break up into multicoloured lines with growth. Adults have a blue stripe along the base of the dorsal fin; a yellow stripe from behind the eye that finishes as a black spot on the caudal peduncle (where the tail fin attaches). Tail in adults with a long yellowish-brown filament. Three bluish stripes across the snout, with yellow in between.

Length: Up to 30 cm

Habitat

Shallow sandy areas near reef edges. Juveniles shelter in areas with rocky debris

Log it

In New South Wales, log if spotted in Port Stephens and south

Related links/info

Species names on the Redmap site are based on the Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota or CAAB (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/caab/). This is updated regularly and lists the approved common name, family, species name and more.

Redmap species descriptions were based, with permission, on the following resources:

Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast, Edited by M. Gomon. D. Bray and R. Kuiter (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne

Find further information and images at FISHES OF AUSTRALIA http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/