This book covers coastal south-eastern Australia from central New South Wales to the gulfs of South Australia. Fishes included are to approximately 30 m depth and comprise 145 families and about 900 species. The taxa are arranged in scientific order so the most similar genera or species are grouped together for easy comparison. Each species is illustrated with one or more images to show variations and juvenile stages or sexual dimorphism. The southern fishes are descendants from Gondwana times and the taxa comprise a very high percentage of endemic genera.