Animal Species:Lyretail Grubfish, Parapercis schauinslandii (Steindachner, 1900)

The Lyretail Grubfish has eight or nine red to dark brown spots on the back and red blotches on the sides of the body. It is usually found on rubbly and sandy bottoms in coral reefs and inshore waters.

Lyretail Grubfish at North Solitary Island

Lyretail Grubfish at North Solitary Island
Ian Shaw © Ian Shaw

Alternative Name/s

Flagfin Weaver, Redspotted Sandperch

Identification

The Lyretail Grubfish has an emarginate to lunate caudal fin. There are eight or nine red to dark brown spots on the back and red blotches on the sides of the body. The first dorsal fin is black basally and red distally, the second dorsal fin has a row of black spots along the middle of the fin. There are two red bars on the pectoral fin base.

Size range

The species grows to about 13 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical waters of the Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and northern Queensland to northern New South Wales.

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

Parapercis schauinslandii

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Lyretail Grubfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is usually found on rubbly and sandy bottoms in coral reefs and inshore waters at depths from about 10 m to 50 m.

Classification

Species:
schauinslandii
Genus:
Parapercis
Family:
Pinguipedidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  3. Randall, J.E. 2001 Pinguipedidae (= Parapercidae, Mugiloididae). Sandperches. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony Fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals. FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-v, 3381-4218.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Lyretail Grubfish, Parapercis schauinslandii, Pinguipedidae, grey, blue, red, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, coral reef, marine, adult,