PORT PHILLIP BAY


Violet Roughy 

Optivus agastos Gomon, 2004

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: IV-V, 10-11
Anal fin spines/rays: III, 9-10
Caudal fin rays: 19
Pectoral fin rays: 11-13
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 6
Lateral line: 26
Gill rakers: 22-25

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:
Optivus
Species:
agastos

General Description

Body oval, belly with a row of strong scutes; anus just before anal fin; scutes absent between anus and anal fin; scales small, rough. Deep violet-brown above, silvery-violet below, fins pink; tail with prominent brown stripes along upper and lower lobes. To 12 cm.

Biology

This species hides in caves and under deep ledges during the day.

Habitat

On sheltered and moderately exposed rocky reefs, in depths of 1-146 m

Reefs

Distribution guide

Eastern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Roughies

Depth

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

Max Size

12 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, Violet Roughy, Optivus agastos, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 24 Apr 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6291

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