© 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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Glauert’s Anglerfish

Family Name:	Antennariidae
Scientific Name:	Allenichthys glauerti (Whitley, 1944)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient, possibly Rare E(ii)
Rationale:  Although the very well camouflaged Glauert’s Anglerfish has a broad depth range in continental shelf waters, it is included here because (i) the species is site-associated with reefs and other structures, which may increase its vulnerability to decline from site-specific impacts; (ii) temperate anglerfishes in general are potentially vulnerable to population decline, due to their strong site association, low fecundity, benthic reproduction and (probably) restricted dispersal ability; (iii) the species is rare in fish collections, and is known from very few specimens (particularly in the S.A. part of the range); (iv) it is part of the by-catch in rock lobster pots, but data are lacking on the frequency of capture, and the potential population impacts; (v) some temperate anglerfishes are sought after in the specialist aquarium trade, which may cause localised population depletion, but there is but there is no information about whether or not Glauert’s Anglerfish is taken for this trade; and (vi) there is little information on the distribution, relative abundance or rarity over the range (including S.A.), and few data on the habitat requirements, and biology of this species. Surveys, coupled with retention and documentation of all bycatch records, are required to determine whether the apparent rarity of this species is due to its good camouflage (which may account for the lack of opportunistically collected records to date), or whether it is genuinely rare within the range.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

A. glauerti is found mainly along the central and southern coast of W.A. (with Cottesloe being the type locality); however there is at least one record from South Australia (Pietsch, in Gomon et al., 1994; Pietsch, 2005).
Froese and Pauly (2007, citing Paxton et al., 1989 and May and Maxwell, 1986) reported that Kangaroo Island in S.A. is the eastern limit of the geographical range of Glauert’s Anglerfish. Apart from the Kangaroo Island record (Paxton et al., 1989), one of the only published examples of this species in South Australia is a specimen taken near Pearson I. (eastern Great Australian Bight), in a rock lobster pot (South Australian Museum record F03429, cited in OZCAM database, 2004 and 2007; Pietsch, 2005).

Habitat

The species occurs inshore on reefs (Paxton et al., 1989, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007), but has also been recorded in deeper waters of the continental shelf (e.g. deeper than 145m) (May and Maxwell, 1986, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007; Pietsch, in Gomon et al., 1994).
The record from S.A. was a specimen found at 70m (S.A. Museum record, cited in OZCAM database, 2004).
Glauert’s Anglerfish has also been recorded under jetties. For example, under the Busselton Jetty in W.A., several Glauert’s Anglerfish are camouflaged in colour to match the surrounding sponges (which are pink, yellow, orange or black) (Storrie, undated).

Notes on the Biology

The species grows to around 19cm (May and Maxwell, 1986; Pietsch, in Gomon et al., 1994).
Allenichthys is reported to be oviparous (Breder and Rosen, 1966, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007). Eggs are produced in a gelatinous mass, where they remain embedded until hatching (Thresher, 1984, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

Glauert’s Anglerfish is a benthic species that is strongly site-associated with reefs and other hard structures. The habitat requirements of this species may increase its vulnerability to localised impacts.
Anglerfishes have low fecundity, benthic reproduction and (presumably) restricted dispersal, which are characteristics that increase the vulnerability of such fishes to population decline (e.g. see Pogonoski et al., 2002, for information on the vulnerability of other fish families with similar reproductive characteristics).
Some temperate anglerfishes are sought after in the specialist aquarium trade (which may cause localised population depletion), but there is no information on the capture of this species in southern Australia for that purpose.

Fisheries Information

The species has been trawled off the bottom in depths greater than 145m (Pietsch, in Gomon et al., 1994).
There is a verified report (a museum specimen) of this species taken as bycatch in a rock lobster pot in South Australia; however the frequency of capture, and numbers taken, are not known for this report.

Threatening Processes

Bottom trawling may pose a threat to populations of this species, but more information is required.
The species has been recorded as bycatch in the rock lobster fishery in South Australia; however it is not known whether or not this is a threatening process, due to lack of data on geographic and depth distribution in South Australia, relative abundance, and catches.

Research Requirements

There is little information on the distribution, depth range, and biology of this species.
More information is required on the by-catch of this species in State- and Commonwealth-managed fisheries.
Surveys, coupled with retention and documentation of all bycatch records, are required to determine whether the apparent rarity of this species is due to its good camouflage (which may account for the lack of opportunistically collected records to date), or whether it is genuinely rare within the range.

Other Information

Glauert’s Anglerfish is reported to be rare. During the 1990s, the species was known from only 14 specimens (Pietsch, in Gomon et al., 1994).
It is possible that Glauert’s Anglerfish is not sighted more frequently due to its very good camouflage, which enables the fish to closely resemble a sponge, in colour, shape and body texture.