Incised Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes incisipinnis Ogilby, 1910

Scientific name: Neosebastes incisipinnis
Incised Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes incisipinnis Click to enlarge image
An Incised Gurnard Perch caught off Newcastle, New South Wales, 3 September 2009. The fish was photographed at Sydney Fish Market. Image: Kevin Rowling
© NSW DPI

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Neosebastes
    Species
    incisipinnis
    Family
    Neosebastidae
    Order
    Scorpaeniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 30 cm.

Introduction

The most distinctive feature of the Incised Gurnard Perch is the black blotch on the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin. The species is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Incised Gurnard Perch has an orange body with two dark saddles. There is a distinct black blotch on the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin. The Incised Gurnard Perch is the only species of Neosebastes with this blotch. The swim bladder of this species is simple. All other species of Neosebastes have bilobed swimbladders, except for N. bougainvillii, which lacks a swimbladder.

Incised Gurnard Perch, Neosebastes incisipinnis
A 125 mm SL Incised Gurnard Perch caught off Bermagui, New South Wales (CSIRO H.4250-01). Image: CSIRO Marine Research
© CSIRO Marine Research

Habitat

The Incised Gurnard Perch is relatively abundant. It is trawled from sandy offshore waters at depths between 30 m and 500 m.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia, occurring in southern Queensland and New South Wales.

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. Motomura, H. 2004. Revision of the scorpionfish genus Neosebastes (Scorpaeniformes: Neosebastidae), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes. 37: 1-76, pl. 1-2.