Enoplosus armatus
Angelfish
(Also: Bastard dory; Double scalare; Moonlighter; Old wife; Zebra fish; Zebra-tail)

Enoplosus armatus is found from Indonesia to Southern Australia (Robins 1991).

Juvenile Enoplosus armatus live in sea grass beds. As they mature, they migrate to coastal waters. They are mainly found in rocky reefs and wharves (Marshall 1964).

The body of Enoplosus armatus is deep and compressed, approximately 230 mm in length. The body is silver with black vertical lines of varying width. There are two separate dorsal fins. The middle spines and the anterior rays of the dorsal fins are much larger than the remaining spines and rays. In total, E. armatus has 9 dorsal spines and 14-15 dorsal rays (Fishbase 2000). The dorsal spines are poisonous to humans (Robins 1991). There are 2 sharp spines on the lower angle of the preoperculum. The iris of the eye is bright yellow (Scott 1962).

The reproduction of Enoplosus armatus has not been well studied. They spawn in June, July, and August (Fishbase 2000). At this time they leave their schools and form closely associated pairs. They produce pelagic eggs. These are eggs that are lighter than water and therefore float and drift in the water column (Thresher 1984).

Generally, Enoplosus armatus lives in large schools, but can also be found as solitary individuals (Fishbase 2000). They break off from these schools to mate in solitary pairs (Thresher 1984).

Enoplosus armatus is a carnivorous species. Not much is known about their general feeding habits. They have been seen eating small crustaceans (Stead 1906).

Enoplosus armatus has a small financial value as a food source. The value of E. armatus in the aquarium market is small but growing (Animal World 2000).

Enoplosus armatus has no known negative financial effect on humans.

Enoplosus armatus is not currently threatened by humans.

Not much is known about Enoplosus armatus. This is due to the fact that it is hard to catch and therefore hard to study. They rarely take bait and nets seldom catch them because the stay in the protection of rocky shores (Marshall 1964).

Enoplosus armatus was given its common name, Old Wife, by the sailors who were able to catch it. Enoplosus armatus grinds its teeth together when it is caught. The sailors said that it sounded like the grumbling of an "Old Wife" and so they named it accordingly (Animal World 2000).