Purplespotted Bigeye, Priacanthus tayenus Richardson, 1846

Scientific name: Priacanthus tayenus
Alternative name/s:
Spotted-finned Bullseye, Threadfin Big-eye
Purplespotted Bigeye, <i>Priacanthus tayenus</i> Click to enlarge image
Schooling presettlement Purplespotted Bigeye at a depth of 35 m, off Coral Bay, (23° 1′ S; 113° 44′ E), Ningaloo Marine Park. Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, March 2012. The footage was captured with a baited remote underwater stereo-video system. It shows two groups of fish (8 and 9 individuals) that aggregated into a single school. A single individual of a different species (most likely a carangid) is swimming with the bigeyes. Image: Julia Santana-Garcon
© Julia Santana-Garcon

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Priacanthus
    Species
    tayenus
    Family
    Priacanthidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 29 cm in length.

Introduction

The Purplespotted Bigeye has spotted pelvic fins. The species occurs in coastal marine waters of the Eastern Indian and Western Pacific region.

Identification

The Purplespotted Bigeye is red to silvery-white with pink tinges. The pelvic fins have small purple to black spots with one or two larger spots close to the belly. The species has a well-developed spine on the angle of the preopercle. The caudal fin is truncatein young fish but becomes lunate in some (possibly male) larger individuals.

Habitat

It occurs on rocky coastal reefs and deeper areas from 20 m to 200 m.

Distribution

The species occurs in the Eastern Indian and Western Pacific regions.

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. 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.
  2. Santana-Garcon, J., Leis, J.M, Newman, S.J. & E.S. Harvey. 2013. Presettlement schooling behaviour of a priacanthid, the Purplespotted Bigeye Priacanthus tayenus (Priacanthidae: Teleostei). DOI 10.1007/s10641-013-0150-6.
  3. Starnes, W.C. 1999. Priacanhidae. (Bigeyes). Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (ed). pp 2422-2524, 4 figs In The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 4. FAO species identification guide for Fishery purposes. FAO.