Chelmonops truncatus

Chelmonops truncatus
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Acanthuriformes
Family:	Chaetodontidae
Genus:	Chelmonops
Species:	C. truncatus
Binomial name
	Chelmonops truncatus; (Kner, 1859)
Synonyms
	Chaetodon truncatus Kner, 1859; Chelmo truncatus (Kner, 1859); Chelmo trochilus Günther, 1874; Chelmonops trochilus (Günther, 1874);

Chelmonops truncatus, the eastern talma or truncate coralfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish from the family Chaetodontidae. It is endemic to Australia.^[4]

Description

Chelmonops truncatus bears a close resemblance to the Western talma (C. curiosus), the main difference being that the dorsal fin is truncated, compared to the long filament present on the western species. The fins and dark bands on the body are often tinged vinaceous, giving them a dark, red appearance in some light. Like other butterflyfishes the juveniles have an obvious ocellus on the dorsal fin, but this smudges and becomes less obvious as the fish matures. The smooth profile of the rear part of the dorsal fin is more obvious in younger fish, and this part of the fin becomes slightly elongated in adults.^[5] The rear margin of the soft dorsal and anal fins is almost vertical in adults, the fins are more rounded in juveniles.^[6] This species attains a maximum total length of 22 centimetres (8.7 in).^[3]

Distribution

Chelmonops truncatus is endemic to south eastern Australia where it occurs from Double Island Point in southern Queensland south to around Jervis Bay in New South Wales.^[6]

Habitat and biology

Chelmonops truncatus is found in coastal bays and estuaries where they live along deep rocky walls. The adults are normally found in pairs, while the juveniles are frequently encountered alone. Their diet comprises small crustaceans, worms, and filamentous algae.^[1] Pairs defend territories.^[7]

Utilisation

Chelmonops truncatus is rare in the aquarium trade and is almost never exported from Australia.^[5]

Taxonomy

Chelmonops truncatus was first formally described in 1859 as Chaetodon truncatus by the austrian ichthyologist Rudolf Kner (1810-1869) with the type locality given as Sydney.^[8] The Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker (1819-1878) created the genus Chelmonops in 1876 as a monotypic genus with this species as its only member. C. truncatus is, therefore, the type species of Chelmonops.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Myers, R.F.; Pratchett, M. (2010). "Chelmonops truncatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165720A6101640. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165720A6101640.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ "Australianmuseum.net.au". Retrieved 16 July 2010.
^ ^a ^b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Chelmonops truncatus". FishBase. December 2019 version.
^ "OzAnimals.com". Retrieved 16 July 2010.
^ ^a ^b Lemon, T.Y.K. (2015). "The long-nosed butterflies part 1: Chelmon and Chelmonops". Reefs.com. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
^ ^a ^b Bray, Dianne. "Eastern Talma, Chelmonops truncatus". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
^ "Chelmonops truncatus". Saltcorner. Bob Goemans. 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Chaetodon truncatus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Chaetodontidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 22 November 2020.