Notchheaded Marblefish

Aplodactylus etheridgii

The notchheaded marblefish, a member of the family Aplodactylidae, is a marine species found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It has an elongated, compressed body with a distinctive concave space between the eyes and a notched profile behind the eye. Its body is brown with small white spots and large white patches on the flanks, and it features an orange rear edge on the operculum. The fins are predominantly brown, with the lower pectoral fin rays showing a yellowish hue. The species can grow up to 45 cm in length. This fish inhabits coastal reefs at depths ranging from 6 to 20 meters, specifically around islands in the Tasman Sea, including Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, and the Kermadec Islands, as well as the northern coast of New Zealand's North Island. As a herbivore, the notchheaded marblefish primarily feeds on algae. Divers encountering this species can expect to find it grazing on seaweeds in its reef habitat. The notchheaded marblefish is not evaluated for conservation status, and it poses no threat to humans.