Smallscale Bullseye, Pempheris compressa (White, 1790)

Scientific name: Pempheris compressa
Alternative name/s:
Bullseye, Deep Bullseye
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    18/01/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Pempheris compressa Click to enlarge image
Small-scale Bullseyes at a depth of 5 m, "The Docks", Jervis Bay, New South Wales, March 2001. Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pempheris
    Species
    compressa
    Family
    Pempheridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Smallscale Bullseye grows to 20 cm in length.

Introduction

The Smallscale Bullseye is shiny silver-brown with a dusky bar behind the head. It has a very large eye. The species is recorded in coastal waters of eastern Australia.

Identification

The Smallscale Bullseye is shiny silver-brown with a dusky bar behind the head. It has a very big eye and a large, oblique mouth. The lateral line is often yellow. The front margin of the dorsal fin is sometimes black, but the Smallscale Bullseye lacks the conspicuous black fin tips found in some other species of bullseyes such as the Blacktip Bullseye.

Habitat

This fish forms large schools which are usually seen in caves or near dropoffs.

Distribution

The species is recorded in coastal waters of eastern Australia from northern New South Wales to northern Victoria.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
  2. Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  6. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.