About Neoodax balteatus (Valenciennes, 1840)
The little weed whiting, Neoodax balteatus, is a species of ray-finned fish that belongs to the Labridae family of weed whitings, and it is endemic to Australia. It is found along the southern Australian coast, including Tasmania. Its range extends north to Cockburn Sound on the Indian Ocean side of Australia, and north of the city of Sydney on the Pacific Ocean side. This species lives in marine and brackish waters, and prefers sheltered habitats including estuaries, rocky reefs, and seagrass beds. It occurs at depths between 1 metre (3.3 ft) and 22 metres (72.2 ft), though it is most commonly found in water shallower than 15 metres (49 ft). The species reaches a maximum standard length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in). Neoodax balteatus can be found in the aquarium trade, and it is the only known member of its genus Neoodax.
