Old Wife Fish

Don’t let the strange name deter you from looking out for this fish. The Old Wife Fish is pretty easy to spot, as it has two dorsal fins. You are most likely to find this fish swimming around the jetty pylons. They like to swim in pairs or in groups.

Did you know? The name Old Wife comes from the noise they make when they grind their teeth together.

WARNING: The dorsal fin is venomous, so make sure you look but don’t touch.

____________________________

Information sources:

• Davey, K. 2009. A photographic guide to Seashore Life of Australia. New Holland Publishers, Sydney.
• Norman, M and Reid, A. 2000. Guide to squid, cuttlefish and octopus of Australasia. The Gould League of Australia, Sydney.