Krasyukova's Perch, Caprodon krasyukovae (Kharin & Dudarev, 1983)

Scientific name: Caprodon krasyukovae
Alternative name/s:
Sunset Perch
<i>Caprodon krasyukovae </i> Click to enlarge image
The distinctive tail of Caprodon krasyukovae with its long median rays. Image: Mark McGrouther
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Caprodon
    Species
    krasyukovae
    Family
    Serranidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Krasyukova's Perch was described from a 47 cm long fish trawled in 1978 at a depth of 55 m on the Lord Howe Rise.

Introduction

Male Krasyukova's Perch have an unusual caudal fin. The margin is deeply notched above and below, and the rays in the middle of the fin are elongate.

Identification

The elongate central rays of the caudal fin are useful in distinguishing male Krasyukova's Perch from other species in the genus Caprodon.

The colouration of Krasyukova's Perch is distinctive. Males are bright pink with yellow markings above and silvery below. The head is pink with a yellow stripe running posteriorly from the yellow eye to the margin of the operculum. The dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are also bright pink, as are the notched upper and lower areas of the caudal fin. The elongated rays of the caudal fin are yellow with a darker area on the base of the median rays.

The tails of juveniles and females are lunate. They are yellow-pink with dark bands.

Caprodon krasyukovae
Caprodon krasyukovae

Distribution

Very few specimens of this fish are lodged in museum collections. A 380 mm SL fish was caught in February 2005 by T. Lewis at a depth of 25 m, off the central coast of New South Wales. The fish is now registered in the Australian Museum Fish Collection (AMS I.43547-002).

G.Kelly, Manager of the Lord Howe Island Marine Park is acknowledged for obtaining the fish in the images and arranging for its transportation to the Australian Museum.

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

References

  1. Francis, M.P. 1993. Checklist of the Coastal Fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, south-west Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science. 47 (2):136-170.
  2. Kharin, V. E. and V. A. Dudarev. 1983. A new species of the genus CaprodonTemminck et Schlegel, 1843 (Serranidae) and some notes on the species composition of the genus. Voprosy Ikhtiologii. 23(1): 22-26. [In Russian. English translation in Journal of Ichthyology]
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2004. Basslets,Hamlets and Their Relatives: A Comprehensive Guide to Selected Serranidae and Plesiopidae.TMC Publishing. Pp. 216.