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Half-banded Seaperch
Hypoplectrodes maccullochi (Whitley, 1929)

A Half-banded Seaperch at a depth of 21 m, Inner Rock, Broughton Island, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, June 2001. View larger image. Photo © E. Schlögl.

A Half-banded Seaperch at a depth of 15 m, Kurnell, Sydney, New South Wales, June 2001. Photo © Á. Lumnitzer.

A Half-banded Seaperch at Inscription Point, Botany Bay, New South Wales. View larger image. Photo © Á. Lumnitzer.

The Half-banded Seaperch can be recognised by its banded pattern, large eyes close to the dorsal profile of the head and large oblique mouth.

Its colour varies from pale pink to red-brown. It has a bright white blotch on the operculum and up to seven dark bands on the side of the body. These bands are more prominent dorsally and disappear further down the sides.

This species grows to 20 cm in length.

The Half-banded Seaperch is found on Australia's east coast, from northern New South Wales to eastern Tasmania.

It lives in coastal and estuarine rocky reefs at depths from 5 m to 50 m. It is common in the Sydney region where it is often seen perched on ledges and sponges.

View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.

Related links

• Banded Seaperch fact sheet
• Blackbanded Seaperch fact sheet
• View the Family Serranidae list
• View the Rockcods, Basslets, Coral Cods, Coral Trouts and Groupers list

Further reading

1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life; the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544
2. 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.
3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
6. Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665.