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White Ear
Parma microlepis Günther, 1862
An adult White Ear at Kurnell, Botany Bay, New South Wales.
A small juvenile White Ear at a depth of 6m, Kurnell, New South Wales, January 2000.
A large juvenile White Ear at a depth of 18m, Split Solitary Island, New South Wales, May 2003. View larger image.
The White Ear changes colour as it grows but always has a white blotch on the operculum that gives rise to the common name.
Young juveniles (lower images) are orange with neon blue lines, and a blue-rimmed ocellus (glossary) on the dorsal fin. As the fish grows (lower image) the blue lines become less distinct and break into spots. The bright yellow colour gradually fades resulting in the adults colouration (top image) which is yellowish-brown to grey or black.
The White Ear grows to 20cm in length.
This species occurs on exposed rocky reefs from the surface (often in rockpools as juveniles) to a depth of 30m. It is recorded from northern New South Wales to north-eastern Tasmania and New Zealand.
Adult males aggressively defend their territories during the breeding season, and may even nip divers. View movie showing a White Ear biting a Red Indianfish.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life; the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544
- Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
