Rusty Jobfish, Aphareus rutilans (Cuvier, 1830)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Rusty Jobfish, Aphareus rutilans (Cuvier, 1830)

The Rusty Jobfish is an elongate species with a large lunate tail. It has a large mouth with a protruding lower jaw and minute teeth. The long-based dorsal fin is not deeply incised at the junction of the spinous and soft-rayed portions. The last ray of both the dorsal and anal fins is elongated. Body colour varies from blue-grey to mauve or reddish.

Identification

The Rusty Jobfish resembles the Smalltooth Jobfish, Aphareus furca . The two species can be separated based on colour and gill raker counts. The Smalltooth Jobfish is steel-blue to purplish brown. It has 6 to 12 gill rakers on the upper limb (vs. 16 to 19 in the Rusty Jobfish) and 15 to 18 on the lower limb (vs. 32 to 35).

Size range

It grows to about 80 cm in length but is common to about 50 cm.

Distribution

The species occurs in coral reef and inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west and Central Pacific.

In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and northern Queensland.

Classification

Species:: rutilans
Genus:: Aphareus
Family:: Lutjanidae
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Anderson, W.D.Jnr & G.R. Allen. 2001. Lutjanidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-iv, 2791-3379.
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 Updated: 14 May 2009

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