Animal Species:Longsnout Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes longirostris Motomura, 2004

The Long-snout Gurnard Perch is a rare species. It is endemic to northern Western Australia.

Longsnout Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes longirostris

Longsnout Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes longirostris
CSIRO Marine Research © CSIRO Marine Research

Identification

The Long-snout Gurnard Perch has a relatively elongate body and snout. The body is grayish, mottled with poorly defined reddish blotches. The pectoral fin and spinous portion of the dorsal fin are blackish.

This species can be distinguished from other members of Neosebastes by having the following combination of characters: 57-63 scales in longitudinal series; underside of mandible with numerous tiny pores; tip of lower opercular spine extending beyond opercular margin; preocular spine simple (not branched) on each side of head; supraocular spines present only posterior to vertical through midline of eye; interorbital space entirely covered with scales. The interorbital space of this species becomes shallower with growth. This change is unique among the species of Neosebastes.

The Long-snout Gurnard Perch is a rare species. It is known from only 13 specimens.

Size range

The species grows to 22 cm.

Distribution

The species is endemic to northern Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Neosebastes longirostris

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Longsnout Gurnard Perch in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is usually found at depths from 170 m to 250 m.

Classification

Species:
longirostris
Genus:
Neosebastes
Family:
Neosebastidae
Order:
Scorpaeniformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. 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.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, ichthyology, Longsnout Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes longirostris, Neosebastidae, grey, purple, red, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, mottled, blotches, pelagic, marine, adult, black fins,