Yellowback Bream, Dentex spariformis Ogilby, 1910

Scientific name: Dentex spariformis
Alternative name/s:
Cape Moreton Sea Bream, Deepsea Snapper, Yellowback Seabream
Yellowback Bream, Dentex spariformis Click to enlarge image
A Yellowback Bream caught on hook and line at a depth of 150 m, off North Solitary Island, New South Wales, January 2004. Image: Paul Murphy
© Paul Murphy

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Dentex
    Species
    spariformis
    Family
    Sparidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to around 40 cm in length.

Introduction

The Yellowback Bream is a tropical species that can be distinguished by its deep, compressed body and colouration.

Identification

The species has a relatively deep, compressed body. The head profile is bulged near the eye. It is orange-brown above, silvery below and has orange-red dorsal, anal and caudal fins. There are three yellow blotches on the back. The first blotch is at the dorsal fin origin.

Habitat

It is usually found in depths from 50 m to 250 m.

Distribution

The species occurs in marine waters of the Western Pacific.In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north (possibly absent from the Gulf of Carpentaria) and south to the central coast of New South Wales.

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

Economic impacts

The species is caught commercially in New South Wales.

References

  1. Carpenter, K.E. 2001. Sparidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. (eds) FAO species identification guide for Fishery purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 5. FAO. Pp. 3379.
  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. Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & P.J. Kailola. 1984. Trawled Fishes of southern Indonesia and north-western Australia. Jakarta: Directorate General of Fisheries (Indonesia), German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Pp. 406.