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Lyretail Trout
Variola albimarginata Baissac, 1953
Above and below:A Lyretail Trout at a depth of 16m, "Lighthouse", Ribbon Reef #10, Great Barrier Reef off Cooktown, Queensland, June 2002. View larger image.
The Lyretail Trout can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It has yellow wavy lines and bluish to purple spots on the body. The head is orange with reddish spots. The median fins (glossary) have red to purple spots. The central caudal fin rays have white tips that form a line along the fin margin.
This species grows to 60cm in length.
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is known from off the Northern Territory and the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
Further reading
- 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.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
