PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sandpaper Fish 

Paratrachichthys macleayi (Johnson, 1881)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: V, 13
Anal fin spines/rays: III, 10
Caudal fin rays: 19
Pectoral fin rays: 12-14
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 6
Lateral line: 48-52

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other mersitics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Deep-bodied somewhat compressed fishes, often with large mouths and eyes, strong fin spines and spiny scales. Many species have sculpturing, or large mucous cavities separated by bony ridges on the head. Others have strong spines on the gill covers, or serrated scales along the belly. Some are red to orange in colour, while others are yellow, brown and black.

Family level detail.
Compressed deep-bodied fishes with large bony heads with large mucous cavities, large mouths, prominent scutes along the belly and a single dorsal fin on the middle of the back. Some species are bioluminescent.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Beryciformes
Family:
Trachichthyidae
Genus:
Paratrachichthys
Species:
macleayi

General Description

Body moderately deep; belly with a row of strong scutes; anus between pelvic-fin bases, encircled by black luminescent tissue; scutes present between anus and anal fin; scales small, rough. Bronze to greenish yellow with silvery sides; fins pink, or yellowish and black. To 25 cm.

Biology

Small schools may be seen hiding in caves and under ledges during the day.

Habitat

Exposed rocky reefs, in depths of 15-403 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Roughies

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Max Size

25 cm

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Sandpaper Fish, Paratrachichthys macleayi, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 24 Jun 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6292

Text: creative commons cc by licence