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Sea Sweep
Scorpis aequipinnis Richardson, 1848
A Sea Sweep at a depth of 10 m, north-western Kangaroo Island, South Australia, December, 2003. View larger image.
The Sea Sweep has a deep compressed body that is covered with tiny ctenoid scales. The dorsal and anal fins both have a prominent raised lobe. It has a large forked caudal fin and small pectoral fins.
This species is grey, often with a tinge of blue, green, or sometimes brown. The belly is silvery. There are two indistinct dusky bands on the upper sides.
It grows to 61 cm in length.
The Sea Sweep is found on rocky reefs in coastal waters. It is a schooling species that is seen in small aggregations to large schools often feeding on plankton, well above the seabed.
In Australia it is known from the southern coast of New South Wales, around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
The Sea Sweep is also known as the Maomao, Silver Sweep, Snapjack and Sweep.
Further reading
- 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.
- Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & F.H. Talbot. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority. Pp. 563.
