Animal Species:Reef Ocean Perch, Helicolenus percoides (Richardson, 1842)

The Reef Ocean Perch can be recognised by its notched dorsal fin, large pectoral fins and its colouration. The species occurs in depths between 80 m and 350 m, in temperate marine waters of Australia and New Zealand.

A Reef Ocean Perch caught off Botany Bay

A Reef Ocean Perch caught off Botany Bay
Steve Wozniak © Steve Wozniak

Identification

The Reef Ocean Perch can be recognised by its notched dorsal fin, large pectoral fins and its colouration. The body is usually orangish to white with two branched bands laterally and small dark spots on the head.

All species in the genus Helicolenus have a low spineless ridge (the suborbital stay) running horizontally below the eye.

Size range

The Reef Ocean Perch grows to 30 cm in length.

Similar Species

The Reef Ocean Perch looks similar to the deeper-dwelling Bigeye Ocean Perch, Helicolenus barathri. .

Distribution

The species is occurs in Australia and New Zealand,

In Australia it is known from central coast of New South Wales to southern 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.

Helicolenus percoides

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Reef Ocean Perch specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is found in depths between 80 m and 350 m.

Economic/social impacts

It is an important commercial species in southern marine waters of Australia.

Classification

Species:
percoides
Genus:
Helicolenus
Family:
Sebastidae
Order:
Scorpaeniformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Poss, S.G. in Gomon, M.F, C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Reef Ocean Perch, Helicolenus percoides, temperate water, marine, notched dorsal fin, orange, white, stripes or bands, dots/spots, 10 cm - 30 cm, deepsea, commerical species,