Western Seacarp

Aplodactylus westralis

The Western Seacarp, also known as Aplodactylus westralis, is a reef-associated fish commonly found along the southwestern coast of Australia. It inhabits rocky reefs with abundant seaweed, typically at depths of up to 20 meters. This species is easily recognized by its elongated body, which is brown or slaty grey with distinct dark saddle blotches on its back and upper flanks. These blotches transition into irregular bars below the lateral line, often accompanied by pale brown or whitish spots, particularly on the head and fins. The Western Seacarp has a small, slightly downturned mouth with fleshy lips and distinctive lanceolate teeth arranged in several rows. Its dorsal fin is notable for being nearly divided into two sections by a deep incision, containing 17-18 spines and 18-19 soft rays. The anal fin features 3 spines and 7 soft rays. The largest recorded individual reached a length of 53 cm, although most are smaller. This fish is herbivorous, primarily feeding on brown algae. As of now, the Western Seacarp has not been evaluated for conservation status by the IUCN.