Animal Species:Yellowspotted Boarfish, Paristiopterus gallipavo Whitley, 1944

The Yellowspotted Boarfish is white to brown or grey with brown stripes on the side of the body and yellow to brown spots. The species was described in 1944 by Australian Museum Fish Curator Gilbert Whitley.

Yellowspotted Boarfish at Wirrina Reef

Yellowspotted Boarfish at Wirrina Reef
David Muirhead © David Muirhead

Alternative Name/s

Brown-spotted Boarfish, Giant Boarfish, Yellowspotted Penfish

Identification

The Yellowspotted Boarfish has a moderately deep, compressed body. The dorsal fin spines are long, the posterior five are longer than the soft dorsal fin rays. The species is white to brown or grey with brown stripes on the side of the body and yellow to brown spots.

Size range

The species grows to 60 cm in length.

Distribution

The Yellowspotted Boarfish is endemic to Australia. It is found in waters from eastern South Australia to the central coast of Western Australia.

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.

Paristiopterus gallipavo

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Yellowspotted Boarfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is a benthic species that is found in temperate continental shelf and slope waters.

Classification

Species:
gallipavo
Genus:
Paristiopterus
Family:
Pentacerotidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hardy, G.S. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. 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.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Yellowspotted Boarfish, Paristiopterus gallipavo, Pentacerotidae, white, brown, grey, deep-bodied, 30 cm - 1 m, dots/spots, stripes or bands, marine, adult,