Redspotted Sandperch

Parapercis schauinslandii is a marine fish native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is a member of the sandperch family Pinguipedidae, from the percomorph order Trachiniformes.

Description

Parapercis schauinslandii is a strikingly coloured fish which has black or reddish to dark brown blotches on its dorsal sides, which alternate with reddish bars on the lower flanks. It has a spiny dorsal fin which is black near its base and is a deep reddish colour towards the tip. There is a second soft-rayed dorsal fin with a row of dark spots. The base of the pectoral fin has two thin bright red bars and there are two dark spots on base of the caudal fin. The colour of this species varies geographically, with specimens from the Indian Ocean showing a lined pattern as opposed to a barred pattern. There may also be yellow spots on the muzzle and tips of the spiny dorsal fin.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Pitcairn (excluding Easter Island), north to Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout Oceania. Not recorded from the Arabian Peninsula or the southern coast of Asia.

Habitat

This species occurs in open areas with sandy and rubble substrates on the deeper seaward and coastal slopes and on deep sandy reef flats, at depths between 9 metres (30 ft) and 170 metres (560 ft). The adults frequently swim up from the sea bed to catch prey. They mainly feed on zooplankton, and are often recorded feeding above the seabed with other fish species, or in small single species shoals of 10–50 fish.

Taxonomy

The specific name honours the German zoologist and director of the Ubersee-Museum, Bremen, Hugo Schauinsland (1857–1937) who collected in New Zealand in 1896–1897. This species is found in the aquarium trade.