Australasian Fishes's Journal

Beginning in February 2023, at Nelson Bay, New South Wales, an extraordinary series of observations captured the recovery journey of a Blind Shark from a severe facial injury. These observations were made by Brian Mayes, @brian_r_mayes.

Brian shared, "Over a year ago, I found a Blind Shark with a severe facial wound. Five weeks later, I found it again, and it had recovered slightly. A year later, I observed it again, and by this time, it had mostly recovered, except for the scar on its face."

When Brian first encountered the wounded shark, its head was protruding from under a ledge, and it was continuously flicking its head from side to side every 2 to 3 seconds. He speculated that the head flicking was a reaction to the wound, possibly providing some relief.

The wound appeared quite severe, leading Brian to wonder if it had been attacked by another shark. Given that the Fly Point dive site is within a no-take marine sanctuary, he thought that a fish hook wound seemed unlikely. Brian sent a photo to Dr Dave Harasti, @daveharasti, a local marine biologist, who commented, "Wow, that is brutal. I would say that is a fishing-related injury."

Concerned about the shark's survival, Brian questioned its ability to catch and eat food with such an injury. He also pondered whether Blind Sharks are territorial or roam extensively, unsure if he would see the shark again. This question was answered when, five weeks later, Brian found the shark again within about 50 meters of the previous location at Fly Point, with its wound starting to heal. However, the head flicking persisted, raising concerns about potential permanent damage.

A year later, during a return trip to Nelson Bay, Brian managed to find the shark once more. The wound had significantly improved, leaving only a noticeable white scar, and the head flicking had ceased.

Brian expressed his dedication to monitoring the shark's progress, stating, "Next time I'm back in Nelson Bay, I'll be looking for the shark again to check on its progress. I'm not sure how old the shark is or how many years they live for, but we'll try to monitor it from now on.”

On behalf of the Australasian Fishes Project community, we thank Brian for uploading these fascinating observations and wish him the best of luck in finding the shark again. Its recovery from such a brutal wound is truly remarkable.

We're thrilled to share an exciting new record for Lord Howe Island Marine Park!

A recent photograph by @chris_cooki captured a stunning Seawhip Goby, Bryaninops yongei, perched on a Wire Coral, Cirrhipathes sp. This observation was made at the spectacular Ball's Pyramid about 23 km southeast of Lord Howe Island. Ball's Pyramid is known not only for being awesome above water, but also for its dramatic underwater landscapes.

The Seawhip Goby is known to inhabit tropical waters across the Indo-west-central Pacific. In Australia, it has been recorded from northwestern Western Australia and along the Great Barrier Reef, extending from Yonge Reef to Swains Reef in Queensland. This sighting in Lord Howe Island Marine Park adds a significant new location to the known range of the species.

The new record not only enhances our knowledge of the species’ distribution but also underscores the ecological significance of this unique marine reserve.

A special thank you goes out to goby expert Helen Larson, whose expertise was crucial in confirming the identification of this beautiful fish.

Ball's Pyramid image By JillBBruce - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62764587

In a remarkable discovery, Jeroen van Meenen (@jeroenvanmeenen) captured a photograph of a Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum, during a dive with his daughter at Dalmeny, New South Wales. This species can be easily recognised by its distinctive pattern and colouration.

On the east coast of Australia, the species is recorded from Lizard Island, Queensland (14°40'S) to Port Stephens, New South Wales (32°45'S), making the Clown Triggerfish's appearance at Dalmeny (36°10'S) quite extraordinary. This location is approximately 250 kilometres further south than its recognized distribution. For more information on the distribution of the species, you can visit the species page on the Australian Faunal Directory.

Jeroen made his observation on March 30, 2024, at a depth of 7-8 meters. Reflecting on the moment, he stated, "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get closer and take some better shots as I was with my daughter, and she was running low on air." Despite the circumstances, he managed to capture a photo of this unique encounter.

Upon seeing the Clown Triggerfish, Jeroen's initial reaction was a mix of surprise and admiration. "I thought, what the hell is a Clown Triggerfish doing here! And also, how amazing is this shore dive site with Grey Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Port Jacksons, and pretty cool landscapes. I need to go back there one day, bringing my sea scooter," he remarked.

This observation is a significant contribution to our knowledge of the distributional range of the species, and we extend our gratitude to Jeroen for uploading it to iNaturalist and joining the Australasian Fishes Project.