Find a Fish
Little Red Gurnard Perch
Maxillicosta raoulensis Eschmeyer and Poss, 1976
- Family
- Neosebastidae
- Size
- 13 cm
- Distribution
- Off New South Wales and Lord Howe Rise
- Depth
- 70 m - 140 m
A 70.5 mm SL Little Red Gurnard Perch trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 72 m and 82 m, near Balls Pyramid, Lord Howe Rise, New South Wales , May 2003 (NMV A25132-002 ). Photo: K. Parkinson © NORFANZ. View larger image.
Fresh Little Red Gurnard Perch specimens have reddish bodies with yellowish pectoral and pelvic fins. Other members of the genus Maxillicosta, have whitish bodies with brownish or blackish blotches and whitish pectoral and pelvic fins.
M. raoulensis can also be distinguished from other Australian species of Maxillicosta by having 25-27pectoral fin rays (versus 20-23) and 14-17 gill rakers (versus 10-13).
The Little Red Gurnard Perch is common in New Zealand, especially the Kermadec Islands. Four specimens were recently recorded from Australian waters (off New South Wales and the Lord Howe Rise). The Little Red Gurnard Perch is probably widely distributed on the oceanic ridges of the south-western Pacific Ocean.
Related links
- Bigeye Gurnard Perch fact sheet
- View the Family Neosebastidae list
- View the Scorpionfishes list
- View the Scorpionfishes of Australia list
Further reading
- Eschmeyer, W.N. and S.G. Poss. 1976. Review of the scorpionfish genus Maxillicosta (Pisces: Scorpaenidae), with a description of three new species from the Australian-New Zealand region. Bulletin of Marine Science. 26(4): 433-449.
- Motomura, H., Last, P.R. & W.T. White. 2005. First records of a scorpionfish, Maxillicosta raoulensis (Scorpaeniformes: Neosebastidae), from the Tasman Sea, with fresh colour notes for the species. Biogeography, 7: 85-90.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2006
Page researched and compiled by
H. Motomura and M. McGrouther, August 2006.
