Northwest Australia Reef and Shore Fish Records from 1991-1994 Expeditions

49 new reef and shore fish records for Western Australia, including 15 species not previously recorded in Australian waters. The data originates from three expeditions between 1991 and 1994 across the Kimberley coast, Monte Bello Islands, and offshore reefs. Parks Australia provides this record to highlight research relevant to Australian Marine Parks.

Use Cases

• Update regional species checklists based on the 49 new fish records for Western Australia.
• Study biogeographic patterns of reef fish based on discoveries from the Kimberley coast and Monte Bello Islands.
• Analyze biodiversity changes over time by comparing these 1990s expedition records with earlier research that recorded 833 species.
• Identify potential new species for taxonomic description based on mentions of newly described or yet-to-be-described species.

Strengths

• Includes 49 new fish records for Western Australia, with 15 representing first records for Australian waters.
• Data collection involved multiple methods including rotenone, spears, SCUBA surveys, and underwater photography.
• Builds upon earlier research that documented 833 species, providing a contextual baseline.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to the 1991-1994 collection period.

Provenance

Source

Parks Australia, referencing a source publication.

Collection Method

Fish were collected using rotenone, spears, and SCUBA surveys, supported by underwater photography during three expeditions.

Time Range

1991-1994

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-16 23:03:01.011878; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Kimberley coast, Monte Bello Islands, and several offshore reefs along Australia's North-West Shelf.