© 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.

---

TETRAROGIDAE: WASPFISHES

© John Lewis

The Waspfish family contains 15 genera and around 42 named species, mostly marine, and distributed throughout the Indo-west Pacific (Froese and Pauly, 2007). Species in the Tetrarogidae are related to scorpionfishes (Scopaenidae), and were previously included in that family.
Members of the Tetrarogidae are characterised by a compressed body; the head usually with ridges and spines; and usually two divergent opercular spines, amongst other features. Tetrarogid fishes are bottom-dwelling predators of crustaceans and fishes (Nelson, 1994, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007).
The Goblin Fish Glyptauchen panduratus is discussed below, due to its endemism in southern Australia, strong habitat association in shallow water habitats, vulnerability to capture in trawl fisheries, and usual occurrence as solitary individuals.
The Western Fortescue Centropogon latifrons (on of three Fortescue species in Australia) is also discussed, due to its limited distribution in South Australia, which is at the edge of the range.
Another member of the family, the more widely distributed and more abundant South Australian Cobbler or Soldierfish Gymnapistes marmoratus, is also from an Australian endemic and mono-specific genus, and is closely related to Glyptauchen. Despite its relatively high abundance, the species is discussed below due to a number of vulnerable population characteristics, and threatening processes.

Associated taxa

Goblinfish / Goblin Fish	Glyptauchen panduratus (Richardson, 1850)
Western Fortescue	Centropogon latifrons Mees, 1962
Soldierfish / South Australian Cobbler / Happy Moments / Devil Fish	Gymnapistes marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829)