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ANIMAL SPECIES:Sergeant Baker, Hime purpurissatus Richardson, 1843

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The Sergeant Baker is probably named after Governor Phillip's orderly sergeant, William Baker. The species is commonly seen by divers in on the New South Wales coast.

Identification

The Sergeant Baker can be recognised by its long tapering body, blotched colouration and its behaviour. The species is commonly observed by divers as it perches on the substrate with its head raised.

Adult males and females are easy to tell apart. Several of the anterior rays of the first dorsal fin are greatly elongated in males, nearly reaching the adipose fin. The elongated dorsal fin rays can be seen in the middle image.

The Sergeant Baker is probably named after Governor Phillip's orderly sergeant, William Baker. Sergeant Baker came to Australia as a Corporal of Marines on the transport ship Charlotte. He was reported to have been a keen fisherman, and possibly the first white settler to have caught this species.

Size range

It grows to about 68 cm in length.

Distribution

This species is endemic to Australia. It is recorded from temperate waters from the central Western Australian coast to southern Queensland.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Sergeant Baker specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

Dietary items include molluscs, fishes and crustaceans.

Life cycle

A full description of the Larval Sergeant Baker can be seen here.

Living with us

Economic/social impacts

It is reported to be a poor to fair table fish.

Classification

Species:
purpurissatus
Genus:
Hime
Family:
Aulopidae
Order:
Aulopiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  • Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
  • Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  • Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  • Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  • Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 2 September 2010

2 comments

Mark McGrouther STAFF

Mark McGrouther
9.07 AM, 20 July 2009

Thank you Erik. That's a lovely shot of a female. I'll try to track down an image of a male.

Erik Schlögl

eschlogl
4.07 PM, 18 July 2009

Here's an image of a Sergeant Baker off Old Man's Hat, North Head, Sydney Harbour, Australia. Depth: 19m Date: 11-Jan-09

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A Sergeant Baker at Fairy Bower, Manly

A Sergeant Baker at Fairy Bower, Manly View full size
Richard Ling © Richard Ling

A male Sergeant Baker

A male Sergeant Baker View full size
Sascha Schulz © Sascha Schulz

15.4 mm Postflexion Larva of Hime purpurissatus

15.4 mm Postflexion Larva of Hime purpurissatus View full size
J.M. Leis and inked by S. Bullock © Australian Museum

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