Acanthocybium solandri

Pacific King Fish (also known as Wahoo)

GENERAL FEATURES

The wahoo have 23-27 dorsal spines, 12-16 dorsal soft rays, 12-14 anal soft rays, 62-64 vertebrates
and no anal spines. They have a big mouth filled with sharp, compressed, triangular, sharply serrated
teeth. The body is coated with tiny scales of a silvery hue with 24–30 cobalt blue vertical bands that
extend below the lateral line; the back is iridescent bluish green. These fish can measure up to 2.5
metres (8 feet 2 inches) in length and weigh up to 83 kilogrammes (183 pounds).

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Genus: Acanthocybium
Species: Acanthocybium solandri

LIFE CYCLE

A thorough examination of otoliths, or ear bones, revealed that growth slowed down throughout the lengthy
summer spawning season, which lasted from October to February. The fastest growth was observed during
the winter months. Given that there is evidence that female wahoo spawned often throughout the peak of the
season—every two to three days—releasing between 500,000 and 6 million eggs during each spawning
event, the growth slowdown during the spawning season makes sense. Wahoo development slows
significantly after they reach maturity, which makes sense given the amount of energy being transferred
from growth into reproduction by any measure. When everything is said and done, wahoo are a species with
a rather short lifespan—they seldom live longer than six or seven years.

EXTRA INFORMATION REFERENCES

Their diet is made up of other fish,
such as flying fish and mahi-mahi,
crustaceans and squid. They are
preyed upon by sharks and manta
rays. They are currently listed as
least concern.
“Acanthocybium Solandri, Wahoo : Fisheries, Gamefish.” n.d.
Www.fishbase.se.https://www.fishbase.se/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=89&AT=wahoo.
Australia, Atlas of Living. n.d. “Species: Acanthocybium Solandri (Wahoo).”
Bie.ala.org.au. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/f87aac26-a3ee-4e16-
a9f7-e0426bb94f1f.
AZ Animals Staff. 2023. “Wahoo Fish.” A-z-Animals.com. March 27, 2023. https://a-z-
animals.com/animals/wahoo-fish/.
Diggles, Ben. 2015. “Fish Facts: Wahoo Research.” Fishing World Australia. May 3,
2015. https://fishingworld.com.au/fish-facts/fish-facts-wahoo-research/.
Hutchins, Barry, and Roger Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Swainson Publishing.
“Wahoo (Ono).” n.d. Hawaii-Seafood.org. https://www.hawaii-seafood.org/wild-hawaii-
fish/wahoo/.
 Crenadactylus ocellatus

South-Western Clawless Gecko

GENERAL FEATURES

The absence of terminal claws on the digits is their most noticeable characteristic. The pattern is
composed of poorly defined longitudinal pale and dark stripes on the dorsal side, pale spots or ocelli
made up of three to six pale scales that are typically found in the dorsolateral zone, and pale with
irregular dark stippling on the lateral zones. The ground colour is tan and dark brown. They are the tiniest
gecko in Australia, measuring only 6.5cm. They have posterior nasal openings and parietal eyes located
atop their heads.

LIFE CYCLE CLASSIFICATION

Usually found exposed among Kingdom: Animalia
dead autumn plants and debris, Phylum: Chordata
under rocks, logs, and among Subphylum: Vertebrata
grass tussocks. It deposits two Class: Reptilia
soft-shelled eggs (occasionally Subclass: Lepidosauria
one), which weigh 0.12 g and are Order: Squamata
4-5 mm wide, 7-8 mm long, which Suborder: Gekkota
hatch after roughly 34 days. They Family: Diplodactylidae
usually live between 10-15 years Genus: Crenadactylus
and reach sexual maturity at
Species: Crenadactylus ocellatus
around 18-24 months.

EXTRA INFORMATION

Their diet is primarily made up of insects, however

they have been documented eating flower nectar.
They are preyed upon by other reptiles, including
snakes and lizards, spiders and birds. They are
currently listed as least concern.

REFERENCES
Atlas of Living Australia. n.d. “Species: Crenadactylus Ocellatus (South-Western Clawless Gecko).” Bie.ala.org.au.
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/3fdcdf54-68f7-4fc8-a94a-2e09f6801dcd#overview.
Bush, Brian, Brad Maryan, Robert Browne-Cooper, and David Robinson. 2010. Field Guide to Reptiles & Frogs of the
Perth Region. 2nd ed. Welshpool, W.A.: Western Australian Museum.
“Crenadactylus Ocellatus Gray 1845 - Plazi TreatmentBank.” n.d. Treatment.plazi.org.
http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03AABA6D1809AA6CFF5BFC14FE966746.
Uetz, Peter, and Jakob Hallermann. n.d. “Crenadactylus Ocellatus.” The Reptile Database. https://reptile-
database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Crenadactylus&species=ocellatus.
 Malurus coronatus

Purple-Crowned Fairy-Wren

GENERAL FEATURES
A little bird with a long and blue tail. The breeding male wears a collar and eye line of black with a vivid
purple crown. The female has dark red streaks on her cheeks. Black cheek patches are evident on the non-
breeding male. They measure approximately 14 cm in length, with a wing-span of roughly 16 cm, and
weigh 9-13 g.

LIFE CYCLE
The Purple-crowned Fairy-wren reaches sexual maturity at one year of age, but after adulthood, males often
stay with their parents and help raise siblings. The female raises eggs, which hatch into nestlings, which are
fed by the group. After leaving the nest, they spend ten days in thick cover and three weeks in thick cover.
Breeding groups can rear up to three broods per season.

EXTRA INFORMATION

Their diet is primarily made up of insects, seeds and flower nectar. They
are predated by birds of prey and feral cats . They are currently listed as
endangered. Wildfires, extensive flooding and feral animals pose a threat
to the habitat of fairy-wrens. Livestock grazing has been linked to habitat
degradation and the loss of the fairy-wren in several areas of its range,
CLASSIFICATION
fragmentation of surviving populations and higher inbreeding resulting in
Kingdom: Animalia less healthy populations that would be able to withstand disease or a
Phylum: Chordata rapidly changing environment .
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Family: Maluridae
Subfamily: Malurinae
Genus: Malurus
Species: Malurus coronatus

REFERENCES
Australia, Atlas of Living. n.d. “Subspecies: Malurus (Malurus) Coronatus Coronatus (Purple-Crowned Fairy-Wren (Western)).” Bie.ala.org.au.
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/13130ddb-b340-4197-a9e0-d565a63b4f2d#overview.
“Malurus Coronatus Coronatus — Purple-Crowned Fairy-Wren (Western).” 2015. Environment.gov.au. jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia;
corporateName=Department of the Environment. 2015. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64442#:~:text=Top-.
“Meet the Fairywrens – the Fairywren Project.” n.d. Fairywrenproject.org. https://fairywrenproject.org/meet-the-fairywrens/.
Pizzey, Graham, Frank Knight, and Sarah Pizzey. 2012. The Field Guide to Birds of Australia. Pymble, N.S.W.: Harpercollins.
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-field-guide-to-the-birds-of-australia-graham-pizzey/prod9780732291938.html.
“Purple-Crowned Fairy-Wren - AWC - Australian Wildlife Conservancy.” 2019. AWC - Australian Wildlife Conservancy. 2019.
https://www.australianwildlife.org/wildlife/purple-crowned-fairy-wren/.
“Purple-Crowned Fairywren - EBird.” n.d. Ebird.org. https://ebird.org/species/pucfai2?siteLanguage=en_AU.