© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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APLOACTINIDAE: VELVETFISHES

© John Lewis

The Aploactinidae is a family of small, cryptic, benthic fishes, most of which are found in shallow coastal waters of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. There are around 18 genera and 40 species in the family (Poss, 1999; Johnson, 2004; Leis, 2005), and all of the genera and half of the species occur in Australian waters. Several genera occur along the southern Australian coast (Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994). Very few of the species that are known to occur in temperate Australian waters, are common there. Distributions of the temperate species are poorly known, and larvae may range further south than do adults (Leis, 2005). Most species in the family are known from few specimens, probably due to their small size, cryptic appearance and habitat preferences (e.g. within reef vegetation, under rocks or in rock crevices, or in rubble, coral or coralline algae) (Poss, 1999; Leis, 2005; Imamura, 2006).
Most members of the Aploactinidae have relatively large heads with modified bony bumps, ridges or blunt spines, and modified prickly scales on the body, giving the fish a velvety appearance (Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Imamura, 2006). The dorsal fin in adult velvetfishes originates very far forward (normally on the head), and these fishes also have large pectoral fins (Leis, 2005). Body shape of fishes in the family Aploactinidae is laterally compressed. This assists in camouflage (i.e. laterally compressed fish have a strong resemblance to seaweed) (Drabsch, 1996). The colour (often brown, reddish brown, cream, or greenish) also assists camouflage.
Three tropical and sub-tropical species of small fishes, known from very few specimens in South Australia, are included below. These include the Threefin Velvetfish Neoaploactis tridorsalis; the Deep Velvetfish Kanekonia queenslandica, which has been reported from lower Spencer Gulf in South Australia; and the small tropical fish Acanthosphex leurynnis, known mainly from tropical Asian countries, but specimens have recently been reported from Queensland, N.T., W.A. (Johnson, 2004), and South Australia, the latter based on re-examined museum material from the late 19^th century (F. Foster, South Australian Museum, pers. comm., 2006), and also recent shallow water trawl records (R. Saunders, SARDI, pers. comm., 2008). The more widely distributed Velvetfish Aploactisoma milesii is also discussed, due to its inshore benthic existence, and potential vulnerability to threatening processes, such as trawling.

Associated taxa

Threefin Velvetfish	Neoaploactis tridorsalis Eschmeyer and Allen, 1978
Deep Velvetfish	Kanekonia queenslandica Whitley, 1952
Wasp-spine Velvetfish	Acanthosphex leurynnis (Jordan & Seale, 1905)
Southern Velvetfish / Velvetfish	Aploactisoma milesii (Richardson, 1850)