An Alcock's Spikefish, collected at a depth of 420 m, off Raine Island, Queensland, February 1977 (AMS I.20919-029). The red lionfish is an invasive species in Florida. ©Greens and Blues/Shutterstock.com Fish that have spikes use the sharp points on their spikes to keep predators from eating them.
Some fish, like the catfish, can lock their spikes in an outward position, while other fish can deliver venom through their spines. Fish that have spikes rarely use the spikes as tools when they hunt. Australian Fish A-Z List.
Photographs and facts on birds, mammals, marsupials, reptiles, frogs, spiders of Australia. Shortsnout Spikefish A Shortsnout Spikefish, Triacanthodes ethiops. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO.
License: CC BY Attribution. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial The Alcock's Spikefish, also known as the Longsnout Spikefish is a deep water (1279 to 2000 feet deep, in fact) fish living in the oceans of the Indo-Pacific regions-East Africa to Australia, north to the Philippines and further to Japan.
For its land-size, Australia has a low diversity of native freshwater fish with only 281 described species. [1] This is largely because Australia is a very dry continent with sporadic rainfall and large areas of desert. There is a higher diversity of salt water fish.
Several exotic freshwater fish species, including brown, brook and rainbow trout, Atlantic and Chinook salmon, redfin perch. For further details on specific Australian Native Fish Species, please refer to the Species sub menus above. Or, if you know the common or scientific name of a particular fish species you're interested in, than enter the name in the Species Search box above.
See also A Taxanomic Summary of Australian Freshwater Fish. Identify your catch with our fish & invertebrate identification tool, designed for Australian marine and freshwater species. Visit us to learn about fish.
What Fish Has Spikes On Their Face? The thornback boxfish is the most well-known answer to what fish has spikes on their face, characterized by its prominent spines located in front of its eyes. However, several other fish species, including some triggerfish and anglerfish, also possess facial spikes or protrusions serving various functions. Have you ever seen a fish swimming around with what looks like spikes or spines sticking out of its back? If you've spotted this strange sight in oceans, rivers, or lakes and wondered why some fish evolved this unusual feature, you've come to the right place.
If you're short on time, here's a quick answer: Fish develop spines, spikes, and other bony protrusions on their backs and fins.