Barred Grubfish, Parapercis allporti (Günther, 1876)

Scientific name: Parapercis allporti
Alternative name/s:
Allport's Grubfish, Barred Weever
Parapercis allporti Click to enlarge image
A Barred Grubfish caught on hook and line by H. Heus, at a depth of 100 m, off Botany Bay, New South Wales, May 2005. Image: Robert Dobie
© Robert Dobie

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Parapercis
    Species
    allporti
    Family
    Pinguipedidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 33 cm in length.

Introduction

The Barred Grubfish is endemic to Australia and is usually found on sandy and rubbly sea beds, occurring in temperate marine waters.

Identification

The Barred Grubfish is an elongate slightly compressed fish with a large mouth and a long based dorsal fin. The body is reddish above, whitish below and has seven to nine blackish bands dorsally that fade on the side of the body. Alternate bands are sometimes narrower. The fins are yellow with orange lines.

Parapercis allporti
A Barred Grubfish trawled at a depth of 220 m, east of Brush Island, between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay, New South Wales, August 1977. Image: K. Graham
© NSWDPI

Habitat

It is usually found on sandy and rubbly sea beds at depths from 45 m to 200 m.

Distribution

This species is endemic to Australia, occurring in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland to Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

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

References

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  2. 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.