PORT PHILLIP BAY


Barber Perch 

Caesioperca rasor (Richardson, 1839)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: X-XI, 19-21
Anal fin spines/rays: III, 9-10
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 14-15
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: 47-55
Vertebrae: 11 + 15

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 large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
A large and diverse group of small to very large fishes, often with robust bodies, large mouths, often with prominent canine teeth in jaws. Most have a continuous dorsal fin and usually have three spines on the outer bones of the gill cover, and notches or serrations on the inner bone. All are carnivores, although many species feed on plankton.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Serranidae
Subfamily:
Anthiinae
Genus:
Caesioperca
Species:
rasor

General Description

Body slender, compressed; pectoral fins elongate; dorsal fin long-based; tail forked. Males and females are sexually dimorphic. Males bluish above, yellowish on sides with a distinct vertical black bar above anal-fin spines. Females pinkish with a blue line below the eye; small juveniles pink with a dark mauve head. To a length of 26 cm.

Biology

These fishes form large schools on sheltered coastal reefs, feeding on plankton above rocky reefs, outcrops and drop offs. They are usually found at shallower depths and in more sheltered habitats than Butterfly Perch.

Habitat

Above rocky reefs, outcrops and drop offs, in depths of 7-100 m.

Reefs

Open water

Distribution guide

New Zealand and southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Seaperches and allies

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

26 cm

Diet

Omnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Identify

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, Barber Perch, Caesioperca rasor, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 30 Apr 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7983

Text: creative commons cc by licence