Animal Species:Splendid Perch, Callanthias australis (Ogilby, 1899)

The Splendid Perch is bright red or orange with red or yellow fins. Juveniles are pink.  The species occurs in temperate marine waters of Australia and New Zealand.

Splendid Perch, Callanthias australis

Splendid Perch, Callanthias australis
Tom Trnski © Australian Museum

Alternative Name/s

Glorious Groppo, Splendid Sea Perch.

Identification

The Splendid Perch has a moderately elongate, compressed body. It has a small oblique mouth. The dorsal fin increases in height posteriorly The anal fin is long-based.

The species is bright red or orange with red or yellow fins. Juveniles are pink.

It was described in 1899 by Australian Museum fish Curator James Ogilby.

Size range

It grows to 30 cm in length.

Distribution

The Splendid Perch occurs in temperate marine waters of Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it is known from the central coast of New South Wales, around the south of the country to southern Western Australia.

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

Callanthias australis

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Splendid Perch specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is found at depths from 20 m to 200 m. Juveniles sometimes occur at depths of 10 m to 20 m in inshore waters.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The Splendid Perch is a schooling species.

Classification

Species:
australis
Genus:
Callanthias
Family:
Callanthiidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Anderson, W.D. in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds) The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 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.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Splendid Perch, Callanthias australis, Callanthiidae, Glorious Groppo, Splendid Sea Perch, bright colour, red, orange, yellow fins, temperate water, marine, elongate, compressed, oblique mouth, 10 cm - 30cm, juveniles found inshore, schooling species,