Animal Species:Smallscale Bullseye, Pempheris compressa (White, 1790)

The Smallscale Bullseye is shiny silver-brown with a dusky bar behind the head. It has a very large eye. The species is recorded in coastal waters of eastern Australia.

Smallscale Bullseyes at 'The Docks'

Smallscale Bullseyes at 'The Docks'
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Bullseye, Deep Bullseye

Identification

The Smallscale Bullseye is shiny silver-brown with a dusky bar behind the head. It has a very big eye and a large, oblique mouth. The lateral line is often yellow. The front margin of the dorsal fin is sometimes black, but the Smallscale Bullseye lacks the conspicuous black fin tips found in some other species of bullseyes such as the Blacktip Bullseye.

Size range

The Smallscale Bullseye grows to 20 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is recorded in coastal waters of eastern Australia from northern New South Wales to northern Victoria.

 

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

Pempheris compressa

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Smallscale Bullseye specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

This fish forms large schools which are usually seen in caves or near dropoffs.

Classification

Species:
compressa
Genus:
Pempheris
Family:
Pempheridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
  2. Gomon, M.F. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  6. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Smallscale Bullseye, Pempheris compressa, Pempheridae, silver, gold, normal fish, 10 cm - 20 cm, coastal waters, marine, adult, big black eyes,