Sharpnose Weed Whiting

Interesting Info

• The Sharpnose Weed Whiting is endemic to Australia, and its distribution spans along the southern coast, from Western Australia to Victoria and around Tasmania.
• They are small, slender fish with a distinctive sharp nose, hence its name. Their colouration can change depending on environment, however males are typically yellowish-orange to green with different coloured stripes along the head and sides. Juveniles and female are often reddish-brown to green with pearly white and silvery colours on the sides.
• They are carnivorous and feed on small crustaceans, marine worms, and tiny molluscs found in the seagrass beds.
• Sharpnose Weed Whiting possess excellent camouflage abilities, allowing them to blend in with the seagrass and sandy seabed to avoid predators.
• They are generally found in schools, which provides them safety in numbers against predators.
• Breeding is during the warmer months in Australia, usually from late spring to early autumn. They prefer shallow waters with seagrass beds for spawning.
• After spawning, males provide limited parental care by guarding and protecting the eggs until they hatch, which usually takes a few days.
• Their estimated average lifespan is between 2 – 3 years.