The western footballer (Neatypus obliquus), also known as the footballer sweep, is a species of ray-finned fish endemic to southern reefs of Australia, where it can be found down to 30 m (98 ft). It can also be found in the aquarium trade. This species is currently the only known member of its genus.[1]
| Western footballer | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Centrarchiformes |
| Family: | Kyphosidae |
| Subfamily: | Microcanthinae |
| Genus: | Neatypus Waite, 1905 |
| Species: | N. obliquus
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| Binomial name | |
| Neatypus obliquus Waite, 1905
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The compressed body is silvery-blue, with orange to yellow diagonal striping bordered by a brownish black; fins match the shade of yellowy-orange. They reach a maximum length of 22 cm (8.7 in).
It occurs near inshore and offshore reefs of the southern Australia coast in active and large schools. The range is from Shark Bay, to Flinders Island, South Australia. They feed on benthic zone invertebrates and zooplankton.
Other species of its family are known as footballers, for the similarity to footballer's striped jumpers.
References
edit- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Neatypus obliquus". FishBase. August 2013 version.
- Morrison, Sue; Storrie, Ann (1999). Wonders of Western Waters. Como, Western Australia: Department of Conservation and Land Management. p. 119. ISBN 0-7309-6894-4.
- "Neatypus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
External links
edit- McGrouther, M. (November 2004). "Footballer Sweep Neatypus obliquus Waite, 1905". Find a Fish. Australian Museum. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- Fishes of Australia : Neatypus obliquus
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