Yellowspotted Boarfish, Paristiopterus gallipavo Whitley, 1944

Scientific name: Paristiopterus gallipavo
Alternative name/s:
Brown-spotted Boarfish, Giant Boarfish, Yellowspotted Penfish
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    25/01/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Yellowspotted Boarfish Click to enlarge image
A Yellowspotted Boarfish at a depth of 20 m, Wirrina Reef, South Australia, February 1987. Image: David Muirhead
© David Muirhead

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Paristiopterus
    Species
    gallipavo
    Family
    Pentacerotidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 60 cm in length.

Introduction

The Yellowspotted Boarfish is white to brown or grey with brown stripes on the side of the body and yellow to brown spots. The species was described in 1944 by Australian Museum Fish Curator Gilbert Whitley.

Identification

The Yellowspotted Boarfish has a moderately deep, compressed body. The dorsal finspines are long, the posterior five are longer than the soft dorsal fin rays. The species is white to brown or grey with brown stripes on the side of the body and yellow to brown spots.

Habitat

It is a benthic species that is found in temperate continental shelf and slope waters.

Distribution

The Yellowspotted Boarfish is endemic to Australia. It is found in waters from eastern South Australia to the central coast of Western Australia.

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. Hardy, G.S. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.