# Red velvetfish

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{{short description|Species of fish found in Australia}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Red velvetfish
| image = Gnathanacanthus goetzeei 3.jpg
| grandparent_authority = [T. N. Gill](/source/Theodore_Gill), 1893<ref name = VDLEF>{{cite journal | author1 = Richard van der Laan | author2 = William N. Eschmeyer | author3 = Ronald Fricke | name-list-style = amp | year = 2014 | title = Family-group names of Recent fishes | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268078514 | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 3882 | issue = 2 | pages = 001–230 | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 | pmid = 25543675 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
| parent_authority = [Bleeker](/source/Pieter_Bleeker), 1855<ref name = CofF/>
| taxon = Gnathanacanthus goetzeei
| display_parents = 3
| authority = Bleeker, 1855<ref name = CofF/>
| synonyms = * ''Holoxenus cutaneus'' <small>[Günther](/source/Albert_G%C3%BCnther), 1876</small>
* ''Beridia flava'' <small>[Castelnau](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois-Louis_Laporte%2C_comte_de_Castelnau), 1878</small>
* ''Holoxenus guentheri'' <small> [Johnston](/source/Robert_Mackenzie_Johnston), 1883</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Gnathanacanthus|goetzeei|month=February|year=2022}}</ref>
}}

The '''red velvetfish''' ('''''Gnathanacanthus goetzeei''''') is a [species](/source/species) of marine [ray-finned fish](/source/ray-finned_fish), it is the only species in the [monotypic](/source/Monotypic_taxon) [genus](/source/genus) '''''Gnathanacanthus''''' and monogeneric [subfamily](/source/subfamily) '''Gnathanacanthinae'''. This species is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to the inshore waters of western and southern [Australia](/source/Australia). 

==Taxonomy==
The red velvetfish was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) in 1855 by the [Dutch](/source/Dutch_people) [physician](/source/physician), [herpetologist](/source/herpetologist) and [ichthyologist](/source/ichthyologist) [Pieter Bleeker](/source/Pieter_Bleeker) with the [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as the [Derwent River](/source/River_Derwent_(Tasmania)) near [Hobart](/source/Hobart) in [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania).<ref name = CofF>{{Cof genus|genus=Gnathanacanthus|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref> Bleeker classified this new species in the monotypic genus ''Gnathanacanthus''.<ref name = CofF2>{{Cof family|family=Gnathanacanthinae|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref> and in 1893 [Theodore Gill](/source/Theodore_Gill) classified that genus within the monogeneric family Gnathanacanthidae,<ref name = VDLEF>{{cite journal | author1 = Richard van der Laan | author2 = William N. Eschmeyer | author3 = Ronald Fricke | name-list-style = amp | year = 2014 | title = Family-group names of Recent fishes | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268078514 | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 3882 | issue = 2 | pages = 001–230 | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 | pmid = 25543675 | doi-access = free }}</ref> The 5th edition of ''[Fishes of the World](/source/Fishes_of_the_World)'' classifies the family within the [suborder](/source/suborder) [Scorpaenoidei](/source/Scorpaenoidei) which in turn is classified within the [order](/source/Order_(biology)) [Scorpaeniformes](/source/Scorpaeniformes).<ref name = Nelson5>{{cite book |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |author1=[J. S. Nelson](/source/Joseph_S._Nelson) |author2=T. C. Grande |author3=M. V. H. Wilson |year=2016 |pages= 467–495 |publisher=Wiley |isbn= 978-1-118-34233-6 |url=https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ }}</ref> Other authorities place the Scorpaenoidei within the [Perciformes](/source/Perciformes).<ref name = Deepfin>{{cite journal | author1 = Ricardo Betancur-R | author2 = Edward O. Wiley | author3 = Gloria Arratia | author4 = Arturo Acero | author5 = Nicolas Bailly | author6 = Masaki Miya | author7 = Guillaume Lecointre | author8 = Guillermo Ortí | display-authors = 3 | title =Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes | journal = BMC Evolutionary Biology | volume = 17 | issue = 162 | year = 2017 | page = 162 | doi = 10.1186/s12862-017-0958-3 | pmid = 28683774 | pmc = 5501477 | bibcode = 2017BMCEE..17..162B | doi-access = free }}</ref> A recent study placed the genus ''Gnathanacanthus'' into an expanded stonefish clade, the [Synanceiidae](/source/Synanceiinae), because all of these fish have a lachrymal sabre that can project a switch-blade-like mechanism out from underneath their eye.''[Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes](/source/Eschmeyer's_Catalog_of_Fishes)'' presently recognizes this placement.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Smith, W. Leo |author2=Smith, Elizabeth |author3=Richardson, Clara | title=Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Flatheads, Scorpionfishes, Sea Robins, and Stonefishes (Percomorpha: Scorpaeniformes) and the Evolution of the Lachrymal Saber | date=February 2018 | journal=Copeia | volume=106 | number=1 | pages=94–119 | url=https://www.copeiajournal.org/copeia-bjah/ofcg-17-669yt497804km | doi=10.1643/CG-17-669| url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Stonefish are already scary, and now scientists have found they have switchblades in their heads | author=Willingham, AJ | date=April 13, 2018 | newspaper=CNN | url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/12/health/stonefish-switchblade-lachrymal-saber-trnd/index.html}}</ref><ref name=":132">{{Cite web |last1=Fricke |first1=R. |last2=Eschmeyer |first2=W. N. |last3=Van der Laan |first3=R. |date=2025 |title=ESCHMEYER'S CATALOG OF FISHES: CLASSIFICATION |url=https://www.calacademy.org/eschmeyers-catalog-of-fishes-classification |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=California Academy of Sciences |language=en}}</ref>

The name of the genus and family combine ''gnathus'', meaning, "jaw", ''ana'', meaning "not" and ''acanthus'', meaning "thorn" or "spine", thought to refer to the lack of spines on the head, particularly in comparison to the [Scorpaenid](/source/Scorpaenidae) ''[Taenianotus](/source/Taenianotus)'' which was thought to be a close relative when Bleeker described this taxon. The [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)) honours J. W. Goetzee who sent Bleeker [specimens](/source/Zoological_specimen) of fishes from Hobart, including the [holotype](/source/holotype) of this species.<ref name="ETYFish">{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/perciformes10/ | title = Order Perciformes (Part 10): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Families Apistidae, Tetrarogidae, Synanceiidae, Aploacrinidae, Perryenidae, Eschmeyeridae, Pataecidae, Gnathanacanthidae, Congiopodidae and Zanclorhynchidae | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 10 March 2022 | access-date = 16 May 2022 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>

==Description==
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.<ref name = AM>{{cite web | author = Mark McGrouther | date = 20 April 2021 | title = Red Velvetfish, ''Gnathanacanthus goetzeei'' (Bleeker, 1855) | url = https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/red-velvetfish-gnathanacanthus-goetzeei-bleeker-1855/ | access-date = 16 May 2022 | publisher = Australian Museum}}</ref> The fins are large and rounded, the [dorsal fin](/source/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](/source/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 {{cvt|46|cm}}. They are typically red yellow or orange with some mottling while the juveniles are translucent with red stripes, spots and ocelli.<ref name = FofA>{{cite web | author = Bray, D.J. | year = 2018 | title = ''Gnathanacanthus goetzeei'' | work = Fishes of Australia | access-date = 16 May 2022 | url = https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1773 | publisher = Museums Victoria}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
The red velvetfish is endemic to temperate seas off southern Australia It ius found from in the vicinity of [Lake Tyers](/source/Lake_Tyers) in [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)) west to [Point Moore](/source/Point_Moore), near [Geraldton, Western Australia](/source/Geraldton%2C_Western_Australia), it also occurs off the northern and eastern coasts of [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania) and around the islands in the [Bass Strait](/source/Bass_Strait). They are found within [kelp](/source/kelp) and other [seaweeds](/source/Seaweed) on protected rock reefs, frequently living deep within caves and crevices at depths down to {{cvt|55|m}}.<ref name = FofA/>

==Biology==
Red velvetfish sway back and forth with the swell in a similar manner to the kelp fronds they live among, enhancing their [camouflage](/source/camouflage) and making the difficult to detect.<ref name = FofA/> The predominantly red colour is dull in the absence of red light at the depths these fishes live in, further enhancing their camouflage.<ref name = RLS>{{cite web | url = https://reeflifesurvey.com/species/gnathanacanthus-goetzeei/ | title = ''Gnathanacanthus goetzeei'' Gnathanacanthidae Red Velvetfish | access-date = 16 May 2022 | publisher = Reef Life Survey}}</ref> They are nocturnal<ref name = AM/> [ambush predator](/source/ambush_predator)s feeding largely on [crustacean](/source/crustacean)s and [cephalopod](/source/cephalopod)s, as well as smaller fishes.<ref name = FofA/> In humans invenomation by the red velvetfish is documented as causing excruciating pain with a duration of many hours.<ref name = RLS/>

==Cultural depiction==
The red velvetfish has been depicted on an Australian [postage stamp](/source/postage_stamp) of 1985.<ref name = Stamp>{{cite web | url = https://www.steveirwinstamps.co.uk/aus-sg927-40c-red-velvet-fish-67400-p.asp | title = AUS SG927 40c. Red Velvet Fish | access-date = 16 May 2022 | publisher = Steve Irwin Stamps}}</ref>

==References==
<references />
* {{ITIS |id=643994 |taxon=Gnathanacanthus goetzeei |accessdate=30 January 2006}}

==External links==
* [http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.cfm?ID=531 FishBase info for Gnathanacanthidae]
* [http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=257 Photo of red velvetfish at Discovery Bay Marine National Park]
* [http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1773 Fishes of Australia: ''Gnathanacanthus goetzeei'']

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1568972}}

Category:Scorpaenoidei
Category:Venomous fish
Category:Marine fish of Southern Australia
red velvetfish
Category:Taxa named by Pieter Bleeker

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Red velvetfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_velvetfish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_velvetfish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.