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Butterfly Perch
Caesioperca lepidoptera (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
All images: Butterfly Perch at a depth of 32m, Montague Island, New South Wales, September 2002. View larger image.
The Butterfly Perch is usually pinkish with a dark blotch on the body. The pectoral fins are approximately the same length as the head. Adults develop spots, pale blue fin margins and a blue band behind the eye.
The Butterfly Perch is a schooling species that grows to 47cm in length.
It occurs in temperate marine waters of Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia it is common on coastal reefs of Victoria and Tasmania. In New South Wales and South Australia it usually occurs on deeper reefs down to about 100m. It is rare in Western Australia.
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. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
