PORT PHILLIP BAY


Opah 

Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 48-55
Anal fin spines/rays: 33-41
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 20-24
Ventral fin spines/rays: 14-17
Gill rakers: 13-14

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 meristics 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.
A very diverse group of oceanic fishes with either deep, compressed, or elongate and often ribbon-like bodies. All have a unique form of highly protrusible upper jaw. Some species are best known from specimens washed ashore.

Family level detail.
Deep-bodied oceanic fishes with a long-based low dorsal fin with tall anterior rays, scythe-like pectoral and pelvic fins, and a large forked to lunate tail.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Lampridiformes
Family:
Lampridae
Genus:
Lampris
Species:
guttatus

General Description

Body very deep; pelvic-fin origin below pectoral-fin base; dorsal fin long-based, anterior rays very tall. Dark blue to grey above, paler below, scattered with large silver spots, eye, mouth and throat red, fins reddish. To 1.8 m.

Biology

These rare oceanic fishes feed on squid, jellyfishes, small crustaceans and other fishes.

Habitat

Tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate oceanic waters, in 0-350 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Worldwide.

Species Group

Fishes › Moonfishes

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1.8 m

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in 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, Opah, Lampris guttatus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6324

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