Western Talma

Chelmonops curiosus has a very deep strongly compressed body, which is more than half its standard length. It has a small head with a long, tapered snout and a tiny mouth at the end of its snout. There is a single, elongated dorsal fin with the separation between the spiny portion and the soft-rayed portion being hardly visible. The first spine is very small but as they progress towards the posterior they become longer and longer. In juveniles the soft part of the dorsal fin is rounded but it is pointed in adults and has a triangular profile when raised. The anal fin is smaller than the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is truncate. The background colour of this fish is steel grey with amounts of black shading different for each individual. They are marked with 4 vertical black bars with silver edged margins, becoming broader towards the tail. The pelvic fins are black.

Chelmonops curiosus is endemic to the seas of Australia where it is found along the south coast from Victor Harbor, South Australia and on the western coast as far north as Shark Bay, Western Australia.