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Orangebanded Gurnard Perch
Neosebastes occidentalis Motomura, 2004
- Family
- Neosebastidae
- Size
- 22 cm
- Distribution
- Endemic to Western Australia
- Depth
- 100 m - 200 m
The 122 mm SL paratype of N. occidentalis (CSIRO CA.388), caught at a depth between 175 m and 185 m, north of North West Cape, Western Australia, May 1978. Photo © CSIRO Marine Research. View larger image.
The Orangebanded Gurnard Perch has a whitish to yellowish body. The caudal fin has several irregular vertical bands.
This species is very similar to an East Asian endemic species, N. entaxis, in overall appearance. The Orangebanded Gurnard Perch can be distinguished by its upper opercular spine, which is usually divided into 2 points and its extremely deep mid-interorbital space. The species can be distinguished from other members of Neosebastes occurring in Australian waters by the following combination of characters: no black spots on the sides of the body; underside of mandible with numerous tiny pores; and 50 to 56 scale rows in longitudinal series.
The Orangebanded Gurnard Perch is a rare species and occurs in a very limited geographic region (off the central coast of Western Australia). It is known from only 19 specimens.
Related links
- Bighead Gurnard Perch fact sheet
- Blackspotted Gurnard Perch fact sheet
- Gulf Gurnard Perch fact sheet
- Incised Gurnard Perch fact sheet
- Johnson's Gurnard Perch fact sheet
- Long-snout Gurnard Perch fact sheet
- View the Scorpionfishes list
- View the Scorpionfishes of Australia list
Further reading
- 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.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2006
Page researched and compiled by
H. Motomura and M. McGrouther, December 2005.
