ANIMAL SPECIES:Bigeye Ocean Perch, Helicolenus barathri (Hector, 1875)
The Bigeye Ocean Perch lives in deep sea levels, on flat, hard seabeds in upper continental slope waters
Alternative Name/s
Prior to the Australian standard name ‘Bigeye Ocean Perch’ being adopted, this species had also been called Coral Perch, Ocean Perch, Red Gurnard Perch, Red Perch, Red Rock Perch and Sea Perch.Identification
The Bigeye Ocean Perch has a large mouth, large eyes and a long-based dorsal fin. It is overall pinkish-red in colour with poorly defined brown bars on the body and greenish flecks on the scales.
Two species of Helicolenus occur off the New South Wales coast. The second species, the Reef Ocean Perch Helicolenus Percoides is a smaller fish that grows to about 30 cm and lives in shallower water (80 m to 350 m). It is more orange in colour, has small dark spots on the head and darker bars on the body.
Size range
The species grows to at least 40 cm in length.Distribution
It occurs in Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia it is found from off southern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Great Australian Bight off South Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Bigeye Ocean Perch specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The Bigeye Ocean Perch is a demersal species that lives on flat, hard seabeds in upper continental slope waters at depths between 250 m and 800 m.
Living with us
Economic/social impacts
Both the Helicolenus barathri and Helicolenus Percoides species, are important commercial fishes around south-eastern Australia.
Classification
- Species:
- barathri
- Genus:
- Helicolenus
- Family:
- Sebastidae
- Order:
- Scorpaeniformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Last, P.R., E.O.G. Scott & F.H. Talbot. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority. Pp. 563. (as Helicolenus papillosus ).
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A Bigeye Ocean Perch caught off Kiama View full size
Ken Graham, DPI Fisheries
© Ken Graham, DPI Fisheries
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