What's on the move?
Below is a list of marine species Redmap has identified as extending or shifting their usual habitat ranges. Some species are new to Tasmania and others are shifting their ranges within Tasmanian waters.
Crimsonband wrasse
Notolabrus gymnogenis
Males have a green body and white tail with the namesake red band across the body and red fins. Females are coloured red to red-brown with many rows of white dots horizontally along the body. Juveniles are green with white spots. Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmanian waters.
Eastern blue groper
Achoerodus viridis
Males have fleshy lips and are a blue or blue-green colour. Females are brown with random light spotting/blotches. Juveniles are grey with similar blotches. Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmanian waters.
Eastern rock lobster
Jasus verreauxi
Very similar to southern rock lobster but the body is green and it has orange-brown legs. Occurs intermittently in Tasmania and is expected to be more common on the east coast. Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmanian waters.
Gloomy octopus
Octopus tetricus
Current Tasmanian range is still unknown. Some sightings in northeastern Tasmania by local commercial fishers. Look for its white eyes, brown body and distinct orange underside. Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmanian waters.
Grey morwong
Nemadactylus douglasii
The adult Morwong is very plain with no markings, blotches or patterns, just a light silvery blue with blue tail fins. Juveniles will have a dark blotch on the side. Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmanian waters.
Halfbanded seaperch
Hypoplectrodes maccullochi
This fish is dark brown across its back with a pink middle and light pink underbelly. Distinct thin light bands vertically down its body that appear to fade midway down. Has a white dot on its ‘ear’ or opercle. Known from northern New South Wales to the north and north-east of Tasmania. Rare sightings at Maria Island. Log it if you spot it south of Bicheno.
Herring cale
Olisthops cyanomelas
Males are dark, almost black with bright blue tail fin and blue snout stripes. Females are olive brown and lightly banded with wavy blue lines on head. Juveniles are grey to brown and marked with darker brown and a white stripe along its mid-section. Log it if you spot it south of Tasman Peninsula.
Luderick
Girella tricuspidata
Luderick are dark brown or greenish-grey colour with 10 to 12 narrow vertical bars down their side. Log a Luderick sighting if you spot it on the east coast south of St Helens and on either the west or south coasts.
Mado
Atypichthys strigatus
These can be identified by brown stripes running horizontally along the length of their silvery-white body (longitudinal stripes). They also have yellow fins (dorsal, anal and caudal). The mado is found in the Bass Strait and down the east coast to the Tasman Peninsula. Log it if you spot it south of Tasman Peninsula and off the western and southern coasts – or directly off the mid north coast.
Mahi mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Also known as dolphin fish, this species is very bright with colourful blues and yellows which fade quickly upon death. Older male fish have a steep forehead, like a lump (hump headed). Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmanian waters.