PORT PHILLIP BAY


Swallowtail 

Centroberyx lineatus (Cuvier, 1829)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: VI, 14
Anal fin spines/rays: IV, 14
Caudal fin rays: 19
Pectoral fin rays: 14
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 7
Lateral line: 48-51

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.
Medium-sized fishes with compressed bodies, heads with large mucous cavities, large mouths and eyes; a single short-based dorsal fin, a deeply forked tail, long pectoral fins and strong spiny scales. They are usually reddish or orange in colour. A small Indo-Pacific family.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Beryciformes
Family:
Berycidae
Genus:
Centroberyx
Species:
lineatus

General Description

Body moderately deep, depth much less than standard length; head with finely serrated ridges; eyes very large; tail deeply forked with extended tips. Silvery-red, darker above, horizontal edges of scales reddish forming lines; fins red, caudal fin with pale outer rays, eye red. To 36 cm.

Biology

This species is fished commercially.

Habitat

Usually in schools near rocky outcrops and reefs, in depths of 12-157 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia. In Victoria, may be found near Port Phillip Heads.

Species Group

Fishes › Red snappers

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

36 cm

Commercial Species

Yes

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, Swallowtail, Centroberyx lineatus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 13 Jan 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7702

Text: creative commons cc by licence