Animal Species:Bigeye Seabream, Monotaxis grandoculis (Forsskål, 1775)

Adult Humpnose Big-eye Bream are bluish-grey above and silvery on the sides. The species occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific.

Bigeye Seabream at Tijou Reef

Bigeye Seabream at Tijou Reef
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Bigeye Bream, Humpnose Bigeye Bream, Large-eyed Sea Bream

Identification

Adult Humpnose Big-eye Bream are bluish-grey above and silvery on the sides. The fins are reddish-orange and the area around the eye is often yellow. Adults are usually seen without any markings, but can quickly assume four broad blackish bars or saddles on the body. Juveniles have three black saddles separated by white bars on the upper half of the body. They have a prominent black bar through the eye. Juvenile colouration can be seen in individuals up to 30 cm in length.

Size range

The species grows to 60 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific. It occurs from East Africa and the Red Sea, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Hawaiian Islands. In Australia the Humpnose Big-eye Bream is known from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Monotaxis grandoculis

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Bigeye Seabream specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

This fish can be found at depths of 1 m to 100 m.

Feeding and Diet

The Humpnose Big-eye Bream is a nocturnal feeder. Food items include molluscs, brittle stars, sea urchins, crabs, polychaetes, sea squirts and sea cucumbers.

Other behaviours and adaptations

As adults this fish often forms large aggregations of up to 50 individuals, but solitary fish have been observed. Juveniles are usually solitary.

Classification

Species:
grandoculis
Genus:
Monotaxis
Family:
Lethrinidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
  2. Carpenter, K.E. & G.R. Allen, 1989. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 9. Emperor fishes and large-eye breams of the world (family Lethrinidae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lethrinid species known to date.. FAO Species Synopsis. No. 125(9): Pp. 118.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 362.
  4. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 222.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 415.


Test Test , Systems Administrator
Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Icthyology, Fishes, Bigeye Seabream, Monotaxis grandoculis, Lethrinidae, blue-grey, Central Pacific, Large-eyed Sea Bream, 30 cm - 1 m, Great Barrier Reef,