ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      I thank the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees of the Western Australian Museum for their support of this project. Details of planning, typesetting, and technical layout were facilitated by Museum Publications Department staff members Ann Ousey, Greg Jackson, Vince Mclnerney, and Malcolm Parker. I am also indebted to Sue Morrison, Technical Officer in the Fish Section of the Museum’s Department of Aquatic Zoology for her assistance with the preparation of this volume.

      Field work in north-western Australia was greatly assisted by the following people: Tony and Avril Ayling, John Braun, Norrie Cross, Eve and Bill Curry, Craig Howson, Hugh Morrison, Ian Parker, Neil Sarti, and Barry Wilson. I am particularly grateful for the assistance and companionship of the Museum’s marine biological group (past and present) including Paddy Berry, Clay Bryce, Ray George, Barry Hutchins, Diane Jones, Louisette Marsh, Gary Morgan, Shirley Slack-Smith, and Fred Wells.

      Roger Steene of Cairns, Queensland, an Honoray Associate of the W.A. Museum’s Department of Aquatic Zoology, accompanied me on numerous field trips throughout the region and was particularly helpful in providing collecting assistance, and photographic coverage of numerous fishes featured in this book.

      Walter Starck, former owner of the research vessel “El Torito”, graciously offered the use of his ship for fieldwork at Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and on the Great Barrier Reef. Walter first introduced me to the underwater realm of this fascinating region 25 years ago.

      I am particularly grateful to the following owners and dive managers of various resorts in the South-east Asian region for providing accommodation, diving facilities, and boat transport: Ron Holland, Jenny Majalup, Graham and Donna Taylor, (Borneo Divers, Sabah), Alan Raabe, Max and Cecilie Benjamen (Walindi Plantation Resort, New Britain), Anton Saksono (Pulau Putri Island Resort, Java Sea), Kal Muller (Komodo Tour and Travel), Hanny and Inneke Batuna (Manado Murex Resort, Sulawesi), Frans Seda (Sao Wisata Resort, Maumere, Flores), and Mark Eckenbarger (Kungkungan Bay Resort, N. Sulawesi). Dive guide, Wally Sagian of Denpasar, Bali assisted with collecting and photography on Bali, Komodo, and Flores. Rudie Kuiter and Roger Steene also provided diving companionship and assistance at several Indonesian sites. Phil Munday offered similar assistance at Kimbe Bay, New Britain.

      Excellent facilities for extensive field work and research on coral reef fishes was provided by the Christensen Research Institute, Madang, Papua New Guinea under the directorships of Matthew Jebb and Larry Orsak. I am also grateful to Diane Christensen and the Board of Directors of CRI for providing funding and research opportunities. My son, Mark Allen, who is a keen diver and naturalist, capably assisted with field work at Madang on three occasions.

      Numerous scientists in Australia and overseas have contributed taxonomic knowledge resulting in a better understanding of the region’s fish fauna, either through publications or by direct assistance with problematical identifications. Those particularly helpful in this regard included Doug Hoese, Jeff Leis, and John Paxton (Australian Museum), Rudie Kuiter and Martin Gomon (Museum of Victoria), Barry Russell and Helen Larson (Northern Territory Museum), Roily McKay (Queensland Museum), Peter Last (CSIRO Fisheries, Hobart, Tasmania), Tony Gill (Natural History Museum, London), Ronald Fricke (Natural History Museum, Stuttgart), William Eschmeyer and John McCosker (California Academy of Sciences), Ed Murdy, Jeff Williams, and Victor Springer (Smithsonian Institution), Theodore Pietsch (University of Washington), Stuart Poss (Gulf Coast Research Lab, U.S.A.), Jack Randall, Richard Pyle, and Arnold Suzimoto (Bishop Museum, Honolulu), Bill Smith-Vaniz (National Biological Science Centre, Gainesville, Florida) and Richard Winterbottom (Royal Ontario Museum).

      Finally, this guide to the region’s fishes would not have been possible without the wonderful artwork of Jill Ruse and Roger Swainston. It has been a great pleasure working with both of these highly talented artists.

      GUIDE TO FAMILIES

      The following pages contain outline drawings of typical members of the families contained in the book. Scientific family names are indicated below each drawing and the Plate number is given in parentheses

      PLATE 26: GROPERS (FAMILY SERRANIDAE)

      1 THINSPINE ROCKCOD

      Gracila albomarginata (Fowler & Bean, 1930)

      Inhabits outer slopes in 15-100 m; usually swims a short distance above the bottom; distinguished by large squarish white blotch on upper side and black spot at base of tail; juveniles plain with brilliant red markings on fins; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific. to 40 cm.

      ★★★

      2 DOTHEAD ROCKCOD

      Cephalopholis microprion (Bleeker, 1852)

      Inhabits inshore reefs, common on shallow silty reefs; distinguished by plain brown body and numerous small blue spots on head and breast; N. Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific to Andaman Sea; to 23 cm.

      ★★

      3 GARISH ROCKCOD

      Cephalopholis igarashiensis Katayama, 1957

      Inhabits deeper reef areas, generally between 60-250 m; distinguished by bright pattern of yellow, red, and orange bars; S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to 43 cm.

      ★★★

      4 STRAWBERRY ROCK COD

      Cephalopholis spiloparaea (Valenciennes, 1828) Inhabits steep outer reef slopes, usually in about 15-100 m depth; appears plain grey brown underwater, but is actually bright red orange with diagonal white markings near edge of tail; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 22 cm.

      5 SIX-BLOTCH ROCKCOD

      Cephalopholis sexmaculata (Rüppell, 1830)

      Inhabits caves and ledges, usually seen on outer reef slopes below 10 m depth; distinguished by combination of bright red colouration,

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