Johnston’s Weedfish

Interesting Info

• Johnston’s Weedfish is only found in southern Australia, living along the coasts of South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania
• It belongs to the clinid family, or weedfishes, which are experts at blending into seaweed and rocky reef habitats.
• Its colour pattern is highly variable—olive, brown, or reddish with mottled bars and blotches—making it nearly invisible against kelp and rocks.
• A distinguishing feature is the small fleshy crest above its eyes, which it can raise when alert.
• Juveniles are more patterned than adults, often with stronger banding, giving them excellent camouflage in weed beds.
• They live in shallow rocky reefs, tide pools, kelp beds, and seagrass meadows, usually down to 15 m (50 ft).
• Johnston’s Weedfish are ambush predators, staying still among weed until tiny crustaceans, worms, or small fish come close enough to strike.
• Their large pectoral fins let them perch on rocks or steady themselves in surge zones along weedy reefs.
• Spawning occurs in warmer months, when females lay sticky eggs onto weed or rocky surfaces, guarded by males until hatching.
• The lifespan is not well studied but is likely 3–5 years, similar to other small weedfish.
• Predators include larger reef fishes, octopuses, and wading birds that forage in tide pools and kelp beds.
• They play an important role in shallow reef ecosystems, linking small invertebrates to bigger predators higher in the food chain.
• This fish was named after Australian ichthyologist Robert Johnston, who described it in the 19th century.