Large marine fish and ray arrivals create a splash

Making a splash yesterday at Cairns Aquarium were the arrival of a 1.2 metre humphead maori wrasse, malabar grouper and five cow nose rays to the 1.5 million litre Oceanarium exhibit.

Destined to be a crowd pleaser, the two large marine fish and rays are welcome introductions joining existing residents that include scalloped hammerhead sharks, a leopard shark, porcupine rays and predatory schooling fish.

According to Cairns Aquarium’s general manager, Julie Cullen, both of the large marine fish arrivals have special identifying qualities however both share similar reproductive cycles that causes them to change sex from female to male during their lifecyle.

The turquoise and green coloured humphead maori wrasse is an endangered, iconic reef species often appearing in advertisements and a favourite with scuba divers and snorkelers on the outer reef.

The malabar grouper is highly patterned and regularly seen on the reef despite its near threatened classification.

“Having these two very colourful, distinctively patterned fish in the exhibit already adds an entirely new dimension to the Aquarium visitor experience.

“Prone to people watching and following people around, the humphead wrasse is so engaging to visitors, especially with its prominent forehead and blubbery lips.

“When people learn that it is also one of the few predators of the toxic crown of thorns starfish, it will no doubt add to its allure,” Ms Cullen said.

The cow nose rays are a type of eagle ray and while their colouration is not particularly distinctive, their shape is easily recognizable.

They have a distinctive bi-lobed head, with two large fleshy lobes under the snout which makes them very easy to identify as they cruise through the Oceanarium.

For Cairns Aquarium’s head curator Ramon Barbosa, the increase in animal diversity and the arrival of larger sized animals is an event that he has been looking forward to with great anticipation.

“We needed to be sure the hammerheads settled in with a regular feeding routine before we could make any new additions to our largest exhibit but it’s always exciting for the curatorial team to have these bigger animals in the water with them.

“Working with these truly special species makes for a more interesting day and always provides a spectacle when we dive with them for feeding and observations purposes,” Mr Barbosa said.