Animal Species:Moses Perch, Lutjanus russelli (Bleeker, 1849)

Identification

The Moses Perch has a grey body often with a reddish tinge. There is a diffuse black spot (sometimes faint) mostly above the lateral line below the soft part of the dorsal fin.

Juvenile Moses Perch look similar to adults, but have four to five brown stripes on the body, and an ocellus on the back.

Size range

The species grows to 45 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to Fiji.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to southern New South Wales.

Habitat

Adult Moses Perch inhabit inshore reefs and rocky areas. They occasionally enter estuaries. Juvenile Moses Perch are often seen in the lower reaches of freshwater streams and mangrove estuaries. It is found at depths from 3 m to 80 m.

Feeding and Diet

Moses Perch feed primarily on benthic invertebrates and fishes.

Classification

Species:

russelli

Genus:

Lutjanus

Family:

Lutjanidae

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

• Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
• Allen, G.R. 1985. Snappers of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Lutjanid Species known to Date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. FAO. Rome. Pp. 208, Pl. I-XXVII.
• Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
• Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.

Last Updated: 14 May 2009