Blackspotted Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes nigropunctatus McCulloch, 1915
Scientific name: Neosebastes nigropunctatus
Similar species:
This species can be distinguished from all other Neosebastes by the following combination of characters: the distal margin of the pectoral fin is bilobed, the underside of the mandible has three distinct pores on each side and there is no black blotch on the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin.
This species can be distinguished from all other Neosebastes by the following combination of characters: the distal margin of the pectoral fin is bilobed, the underside of the mandible has three distinct pores on each side and there is no black blotch on the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin.
Click to enlarge image
A 236mm SL Blackspotted Gurnard Perch from Ocean Reef, Western Australia (WAM P.27359-001).
Image: Barry Hutchins
© Barry Hutchins
© Barry Hutchins
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Neosebastes
- Species
- nigropunctatus
- Family
- Neosebastidae
- Order
- Scorpaeniformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 35 cm
Introduction
The Blackspotted Gurnard Perch is a common species that only occurs in Australian waters.
Identification
The Blackspotted Gurnard Perch has a whitish or brown (rarely reddish) body with indistinct dark spots scattered on the posterior part of the head and the sides of the body. There are no black spots on the fin membranes.
Distribution
The species is endemic to Australia, occurring from South Australia to south-western Western Australia in depths from 60 m - 550 m.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Motomura, H. 2004. Revision of the scorpionfish genus Neosebastes(Scorpaeniformes: Neosebastidae), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes. 37: 1-76, pl. 1-2.
