Blue Scissortail, Assessor macneilli Whitley, 1935

Scientific name: Assessor macneilli
Blue Scissortail, Assessor macneilli Click to enlarge image
A Blue Scissortail at a depth of 5.5 m, south-west of Murray Island, Queensland, 6 December 2105. The Blue Scissortail is nearly always found in caves and is usually seen upside down. It often occurs with the Yellow Scissortail, Assessor flavissimus. Image: Andrew Green
© Andrew Green

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Assessor
    Species
    macneilli
    Family
    Plesiopidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 6 cm in length.

Introduction

The Blue Scissortail is a small fish that divers see most commonly in caves.

Identification

The species is dark blue with light blue margins on all fins except the pectorals.

Distribution

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.

References

  1. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.