Red Velvetfish

The red velvetfish has a highly compressed body that lacks scales but has a covering of papillae which give the skin a texture like velvet. The fins are large and rounded, the dorsal fin is divided into two with the spines in the first dorsal fin bearing venom. The dorsal fins contain 12 or 13 spines and 9 or 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and between 8 and 10 soft rays. The pelvic fins sit beneath the pectoral fins. They have reached a maximum length of 46 cm (18 in). They are typically red yellow or orange with some mottling while the juveniles are translucent with red stripes, spots and ocelli.

The red velvetfish is endemic to temperate seas off southern Australia. It is found from in the vicinity of Lake Tyers in Victoria west to Point Moore, near Geraldton, Western Australia, it also occurs off the northern and eastern coasts of Tasmania and around the islands in the Bass Strait. They are found within kelp and other seaweeds on protected rock reefs, frequently living deep within caves and crevices at depths down to 55 m (180 ft).