Smallscale Waryfish

Interesting Info

• Smallscale Waryfish are widely distributed in the temperate and subtropical waters off the southern and eastern coasts of Australia, including the Tasman Sea and the Great Australian Bight.
• They are small, slender, and elongated fish. They have a distinct silvery-white to pale yellow coloration and a series of lateral black spots along their body.
• Smallscale Waryfish primarily feed on zooplankton and small crustaceans, which they capture using their specialised teeth and feeding appendages.
• They possess bioluminescent organs on their bodies, enabling them to produce light. This adaptation helps them communicate, find mates, and potentially confuse predators.
• Some research suggests that Smallscale Waryfish may undertake vertical migrations, ascending to shallower depths during the night time to feed on migrating zooplankton and descending to deeper waters during the day to avoid predators.
• They are primarily nocturnal, becoming more active during the night when they venture closer to the surface to feed.
• These fish are known to have a spawning season during the Australian spring and early summer, typically from September to December. During this time, they release eggs into the water column for fertilisation.
• The Smallscale Waryfish are prolific egg producers, releasing a large number of tiny eggs that float in the water. These eggs hatch into larval forms within a few days.
• Their estimated average lifespan is between 3 – 5 years.