Pearly Monocle Bream, Scolopsis margaritifera (Cuvier, 1830)

Scientific name: Scolopsis margaritifera
Alternative name/s:
Pearly Spinecheek
Pearly Monocle Bream, <i>Scolopsis margaritifera</i> Click to enlarge image
An adult Pearly Monocle-bream at a depth of 22m, Agincourt Reef, Great Barrier Reef off Port Douglas, Queensland, June 2002. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Scolopsis
    Species
    margaritifera
    Family
    Nemipteridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 28 cm in length.

Introduction

The Pearly Monocle Bream can be recognised by its colouration. It is usually found in sandy seabeds in coral and inshore reef areas.

Identification

The Pearly Monocle Bream can be recognised by its colouration. Adults are grey-green above and pale below. The body scales have pearly white vertical marks. Those on the side of the body have yellow spots that form longitudinal lines. There is bluish line on the snout in front of the eyes. Juveniles are pale with a darker region above, and a black stripe along the side of the body. The lower half of the body is sometimes yellow.

Habitat

The species usually occurs over sandy seabeds in coral and inshore reef areas.

Distribution

It occurs in throughouth the Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and northern to southern Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef.

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

References

  1. Gloerfelt-Tarp, T & P.J. Kailola. 1984. Trawled Fishes of southern Indonesia and northwestern Australia. Jakarta: Directorate General of Fisheries (Indonesia), German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Pp. 406.
  2. 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.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
  4. Russell, B.C., 1990. Nemipterid fishes of the world. (Threadfin breams, whiptail breams, monocle breams, dwarf monocle breams, and coral breams). Family Nemipteridae. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of nemipterid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synops. 12(125):1-149.