Krasyukova's Perch, Caprodon krasyukovae (Kharin & Dudarev, 1983)
Sunset Perch
Introduction
Male Krasyukova's Perch have an unusual caudal fin. The margin is deeply notched above and below, and the rays in the middle of the fin are elongate.
Identification
The elongate central rays of the caudal fin are useful in distinguishing male Krasyukova's Perch from other species in the genus Caprodon.
The colouration of Krasyukova's Perch is distinctive. Males are bright pink with yellow markings above and silvery below. The head is pink with a yellow stripe running posteriorly from the yellow eye to the margin of the operculum. The dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are also bright pink, as are the notched upper and lower areas of the caudal fin. The elongated rays of the caudal fin are yellow with a darker area on the base of the median rays.
The tails of juveniles and females are lunate. They are yellow-pink with dark bands.
Distribution
Very few specimens of this fish are lodged in museum collections. A 380 mm SL fish was caught in February 2005 by T. Lewis at a depth of 25 m, off the central coast of New South Wales. The fish is now registered in the Australian Museum Fish Collection (AMS I.43547-002).
G.Kelly, Manager of the Lord Howe Island Marine Park is acknowledged for obtaining the fish in the images and arranging for its transportation to the Australian Museum.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Francis, M.P. 1993. Checklist of the Coastal Fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, south-west Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science. 47 (2):136-170.
- Kharin, V. E. and V. A. Dudarev. 1983. A new species of the genus CaprodonTemminck et Schlegel, 1843 (Serranidae) and some notes on the species composition of the genus. Voprosy Ikhtiologii. 23(1): 22-26. [In Russian. English translation in Journal of Ichthyology]
- Kuiter, R.H. 2004. Basslets,Hamlets and Their Relatives: A Comprehensive Guide to Selected Serranidae and Plesiopidae.TMC Publishing. Pp. 216.