Fishes - Australian Museum Fish Site

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Eastern Pomfred
Schuettea scalaripinnis Steindachner, 1866

Eastern Pomfred
A school of Eastern Pomfred at a depth of 15 m, South Solitary Island, New South Wales, April 2000. View larger image.
Eastern Pomfred
A school of Eastern Pomfred at North Solitary Island, New South Wales. View larger image.

The Eastern Pomfred can be recognised by its body shape and colouration. It is silvery with a yellow back. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins are yellow. It has a dark bar at the rear of the head.

This species grows to 24 cm in length.

It is often observed during the day in large schools under sheltered, rocky ledges.

The Eastern Pomfred is recorded from coastal marine waters of central Queensland to southern New South Wales.

View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.

The Western Pomfred Schuettea woodwardi, has a deeper body, taller fins, and has the yellow colouration restricted to the fins. This species is recorded in coastal waters from eastern South Australia to central Western Australia.

Both species are endemic to Australia.

Related links

Further reading

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 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. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
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